The beauty of the Pacific Northwest is undeniable, and in this Eden we must suffer some, well, rainy days...lots of rainy days. So when local weather forecasters called for a sunny Fourth of July in Seattle with temperatures cresting above 80 degrees, I teared up and begin to type.

According to a local station, the temperature on the Fourth of July has only exceeded 85 degrees less than six times since 1891.  

When this happened In 2001, I was moved to write a letter to the Seattle Times, concerned that my fellow Seattleites would not be prepared for the unusual occurrence of a sunny Fourth of July. Six years later, it looks like a sunny forecast is with us again, and the warnings are no less timely.

(See 7-Day planner: http://www.komotv.com/weather/planner)

Letter to the Editor Revisted: Independence Dazed

The Seattle forecast calls for a sunny Fourth of July with temperatures in the mid-to-high 80s. (Take time to compose yourself.) For newcomers to the Northwest, we liken a sunny Fourth of July to a moon landing, a Bigfoot sighting, an easy commute; it's a very rare occurrence. A sunny Fourth requires preparation, take heed:

• The sun can be bright; wear sunglasses and don't look at it directly. Your eyes will compensate with a natural reflex called squinting.

• There is a product called sunscreen that will protect your skin from the sun's damaging UV rays. (Dust off lid before using.)

• Potato salad, chicken salad and macaroni salad are not friends of Mr. Sun.

• Don't be frightened by clearly visible fireworks; it may take practice to adjust your "ooh" and "ahs" to the actual explosions.

• You will not need to wear flannel-lined jeans, wool socks, hiking boots, polar fleece, turtlenecks, ear muffs, Hefty garbage bags or snowmobile suits this Fourth of July. (Read slowly and several times.)

• Beware ice cream can do a funny thing called melting when eaten too slowly.

For those who may scoff and say, "I'll believe it when I see it,"  I politely respond that is your choice, but  I'm  marking  my calendar: July 4th sunrise is at 5:18 a.m.; sunset, 9:09 p.m.

I'll be blogless in Seattle for the next few days.
Safe travels,
Tom