How Seattle is building weather-predicting tech to spot heat waves

The heat wave that hit the Pacific Northwest was predicted early through data from satellites that measure the atmosphere over parts of the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures are expected to remain in the 90s for the next several days. — Getty Images/TNS

SEATTLE: Seattle weather was in the sunny 70s in mid-July when weather forecasters saw the heat wave that has driven 90-degree highs last week was on its way.

That’s a change from decades past, when heat could hit or miss by surprise. Advances in technology and technique have turned weather into a booming piece of the tech sector with satellites, radars and developments in artificial intelligence.