In the roundup: sunny weekends in the west and elevated fire danger in the east of the state; Seattle’s former city council chair on homelessness and crime; Sound Transit announces route changes for 2027.
Bright Seattle Weekend: Afternoon Sun Breaks and Fire Danger in the East
Residents of western Washington have an excellent weekend ahead: morning cloudiness will give way to afternoon sunshine, and temperatures will rise to 70–75 degrees Fahrenheit (about 21–24°C). However, brief showers are possible along the coast and in the mountains due to a weak cold front. The main warning concerns central and eastern parts of the state—there is a “Red Flag” due to high fire danger. In a Fox 13 Seattle article, the contrasting weather picture is described in detail.
Saturday morning will start with thick cloud cover caused by southwesterly winds bringing moist ocean air in from the water. This layer—often called the marine layer—is typical of the Pacific Coast: warmer air meets colder water, forming fog and low clouds. By midday, the clouds will begin to break up, especially in inland areas, but they will linger longer along the coast. On Saturday, temperatures will be slightly below seasonal norms—around 70–75°F, and along the ocean they won’t rise above 60–65°F (15–18°C). At the same time, central and eastern Washington will be hot—up to 90°F (32°C) and higher.
That’s where, on Saturday, the “Red Flag Warning” goes into effect—specifically in central and eastern areas. Meteorologists use this term when a combination of high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds creates a critical risk of wildfires starting and spreading quickly. Authorities warn the danger will persist into the start of next week, because the heat won’t ease. The east of the state is already in a dry spell, and any source of ignition—an ember from a campfire, a carelessly discarded cigarette butt, or even a trailer hitch chain—can lead to disaster.
Starting Sunday, the situation will change: a strengthening area of high pressure over the region will build, and the upper-level trough—a low-pressure area in the upper atmosphere that brought the cloudiness and cooler conditions—will move out. That means there will be more sun early next week, and temperatures will climb to 80–85°F (27–29°C). However, along with the warmth comes the risk: dry, hot conditions in the east will continue to threaten both nature and populated areas.
So the weekend will deliver a rare for this time of year balance across western Washington: pleasant warmth, clearer air after the rain, and the chance to stroll in the sunshine. But behind this idyll, it’s worth remembering that just a few hours’ drive away, summer is already setting strict rules for wildfire safety.
Seattle’s Former City Council Chair on the City’s Top Problems: Homelessness, Crime, and Police
In an interview with Seattle’s former city council chair Sara Nelson, radio host John Curley ran a rapid-fire set of questions covering the city’s most contentious topics. Nelson gave candid answers about the current state of homelessness, street crime on Aurora Avenue, the police staffing crisis, and the lack of enforcement when it comes to drug users.
When asked where Seattle’s homeless population will be next year, given a 9% increase over the previous count, Nelson said the situation will worsen unless the approach changes. She criticized the strategy of perpetual supportive housing, calling it “warehousing and overdoses,” and urged funding for recovery and treatment services. “If we don’t start doing something different, the cycle will keep growing,” she warned, though she expressed cautious optimism about building additional shelters, as the mayor is proposing.
On the topic of crime going unchecked on Aurora Avenue—where shootings happen daily and prostitution thrives—Nelson said the situation will deteriorate without enforcement of existing laws. She took aim at the city prosecutor and the mayor for casting doubt on the effectiveness of previous measures, reminding listeners that Anna Davison’s program has begun. Nelson urged adding cameras and expanding them on Aurora—“these are healthy steps”—and called for “not shooting yourself in the foot, but moving toward progress.”
Regarding the Seattle Police Department—facing a staffing crisis since 2019—Nelson praised a recent accomplishment: the hiring of the 150th officer in 2025, which exceeds the totals from 2023 and 2024. She firmly rejected arguments that there isn’t enough funding for new recruits, saying that’s “deeply wrong.” In her view, the department still isn’t close to having the necessary number of officers to patrol and to bring detectives back to work.
Asked whether Seattle will ever arrest people for using drugs in public places, Nelson said that depends on public pressure. She said she regrets that four years ago they weren’t able to tackle the issue decisively during the leadership change involving Bruce Harrell and Ann Davison. Nelson emphasized: “We can’t go backward; we have to always be moving forward.” The full interview is available on MyNorthwest.com.
Sound Transit’s 2027 Transportation Plan Changes: Preparing for Future Lines and Link Light Rail Service
Sound Transit has released a draft proposal for changes to the route network for 2027. While these adjustments aren’t as sweeping as the August changes for the fall of 2026, they affect several key bus routes and the Link light rail system. The main goal is to adapt the network to future Stride lines and improve service reliability through more frequent preventative maintenance. The biggest change concerns route 560, which will be shortened in Burien but will see an increased frequency. New stops are also being added for routes 532 and 535 in Kirkland, and route 545 will be rerouted to better serve the Downtown Redmond station.
In Everett, early trips on route 510 and late trips on route 512 will end at Everett Station, eliminating four stops north of the station. As explained in a Seattle Transit Blog article, this is related to preparation for future changes. For routes 532 and 535, which run along I-405, a new stop will be added at the intersection with NE 85th Street in Kirkland. This station was built by WSDOT and Sound Transit in anticipation of the 2029 opening of the Stride S2 line. Similar “freeway flyer stops” are a common practice in the region, helping reduce travel time for passengers transferring from other routes.
Route 545, which connects Redmond with other parts of the system, will be rerouted to serve the new Downtown Redmond station. Stops on Redmond Way & 166th St will be replaced by stops at the entrance to the light rail station—one block south. That makes bus-to-Link transfers easier.
The most noticeable reshuffling is in store for route 560. Its route will be cut back to Burien, and frequency will increase: every 20 minutes during weekday daytime and every 30 minutes in the evenings and on weekends. This move brings the configuration closer to the future Stride S1 line, which will replace 560 in 2028. Stride is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system with dedicated lanes and stations, intended to provide faster, more reliable service. Cutting back route 560 now is a kind of phased rollout of the new system.
As for Link light rail (Lines 1 and 2), Sound Transit is considering options for increasing time available for planned maintenance. At present, repairs are done in a four-hour overnight window when trains don’t run, but that isn’t enough. The proposed options include: more frequent planned weekend line shutdowns with bus bridges; earlier end times in the evening and later start times in the morning; and single-tracking in the work zone (skipping service on one track) or shortening some trips (for example, late runs). Each option involves trade-offs. For example, single-tracking would allow the first and last trips to continue, but it could reduce frequency to 20–30 minutes. Expanding the overnight bus network could help soften the impact of reducing Link operating hours.
These proposals are open for public input: Sound Transit is collecting feedback through an online survey and will hold a virtual information session on July 21. The final decision will be made with an eye to balancing service needs and passenger convenience.
