Seattle topped out at a whopping 88 degrees Sunday, breaking the old record high of 87 set in 1987. Yet Seattle wasn't the only record broken. Olympia hit 90 (old record, 89), Bellingham hit 83, breaking their old record of 82. But no record fell as hard as the one in Forks, where it hit a sizzling 92 degrees, breaking their old record if 81.

Other cities managed to get into the 90s, with Shelton and Forks leading the way at 92 degrees. The "cool" spots around the Sound were Oak Harbor at 76 and Everett, which checked in at 81.

Here's a list of high temperatures around the area for Sunday:

Shelton: 92
Forks: 92
Olympia: 90
Bremerton: 90
Seattle: 88
Renton: 88
Tacoma: 86
Port Angeles: 86
Friday Harbor: 86
Bellingham: 83
Everett: 81
Oak Harbor: 76

But that seems downright chilly compared to the Portland area, where Vancouver hit 98 and Portland wilted at 101.

Why Is It So Hot?

During a usual Seattle summer day, we have our "natural air conditioning" in the form of a westerly wind that blows in off the Pacific Ocean. That keeps temperatures in the 70s.

However, Sunday and Monday, we have a strong thermal trough building into the area (read more about thermal troughs in our Weather FAQ) helping to pull our winds from the east instead of the usual west.

When winds come from the east (an "offshore" wind) that does a few things:

1) That air is coming from a much hotter Eastern Washington, so it's already got a head start in being warm.

2) As that air comes over the top and sinks down the Cascade mountains, it heats up even more (as air warms and dries out when it sinks, just like it cools and becomes more moist as it rises.) Forks on the coast also usually gets abnormally hot in this pattern as air sinks down the western slopes of the Olympic Mountains. That's how they hit 92 Sunday.

and 3) It holds back the west wind from coming in off the ocean to cool us off.

Add that all up, and we're looking at afternoon and evening temperatures around the Puget Sound area in the upper 80s and 90s.

Even Hotter Monday

Believe it or not, it's expected to be even a little hotter for Monday, with everyone except for the coast into the 90s, and maybe upper 90s along the foothills as the offshore flow gets stronger still. The record high in Seattle for Monday is 88, and that too looks like it'll be rewritten. The coast, on the other hand, will start the cooling process and drop into the mid-upper 70s as cooler air finally begins to trickle in from the ocean.

Another tidbit: Seattle has not hit 90 in nearly two years -- it was Aug. 9, 2004 the last time it was over 90 (92). Seattle averages two days a year at 90 or warmer.

You can track the current temperatures here:

Or if you don't see your town, try this link

At Least It's A Dry Heat

The good news is, unlike most of the rest of the country, when it does get hot here, it's more of a desert, dry California heat than a humid, sticky Midwest heat.

That's due to the fact that the air is already coming from dry Eastern Washington, and then dries out even more when it sinks down the western slopes (remember, the east winds hold that humid ocean air at bay offshore).

In the Midwest and East Coast, their muggy air comes up from the warm, moist Gulf of Mexico. So at least here it's easier to cool off by sweating or spraying some water on you as opposed to the oppressive heat of the Midwest and East coast.

Don't Forget: Your Pets Get Hot Too

With the record heat, Seattle's animal shelter is urging owners to take care of their pets.

Director Don Jordan says whenever it's hot the Seattle Animal Shelter gets hundreds of calls about pets locked in cars.

Jordan says even dogs in cars in the shade with windows cracked are at risk of brain damage or death from the heat.

Jordan says avoid trips where you have to leave a pet in the car, and if you must travel bring along water for your pet.

He says never leave an animal chained or penned in direct sunlight. And avoid over-exerting your pet, especially if its older or obese.

Owners may face animal cruelty charges if a pet is found suffering from heat or dies.

Finally Starting To Cool Off On Tuesday

The thermal trough is finally expected to move inland and to our east during the day Tuesday, allowing the cooling west winds to finally win the battle and begin their push inland.

That will allow for a little bit of cool air to begin mixing in Tuesday afternoon in the form of a seabreeze, allowing areas along the northern Olympic Peninsula and near the Strait of Juan De Fuca to drop back into the 70s.

But in the greater Puget Sound area, temperatures will likely already be solidly into the 80s by the time the cooler air begins to trickle in, so another pretty toasty day expected, but maybe low-mid 80s as opposed to the low 90s.

The cool winds are expected to rev up Tuesday night and push through the entire area, kicking in our "natural air conditioning". That might create some brief morning clouds for Wednesday but still plenty of sunshine. Highs will drop back into the mid-upper 70s as the air mass will still be residually warm enough for a warmer-than-normal day, but more manageable for most folks.

Marine flow strengthens for Thursday through the weekend, getting temperatures down closer to the normal mid 70s amid morning clouds and afternoon sunshine, which should let our record-book eraser take a breather :)