Is Friday the day we finally hit 70 degrees?

Most of the country probably wouldn't understand how much Seattle folk yearn for the year's first 70-degree day, which could make its appearance Friday.

But hardly anyone has to wait this long to see one.

Consider: Miami and Honolulu, wasting no time, got theirs on New Year's Day this year. Five days later, Los Angeles followed suit.

Minneapolis, shaking off winter's chill, got its first 70-degree day April 10. Portland notched its on April 23, and Spokane hit the mark May 10.

If that mark isn't hit Friday at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, site of the city's official readings, we're virtually certain to surpass the record for the latest appearance of a 70-degree day, set May 23, 2003. Temperatures are expected to dip again into the weekend and first part of next week.

Thursday's high, at 4:21 p.m. at Sea-Tac, was 68 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

KING-TV chief meteorologist Jeff Renner said he'll be surprised if Seattle doesn't hit 70 degrees Friday, and he knows Seattle residents hunger not so much for the number, but for the sunshine that accompanies it.

"People are just fed up with the rainfall and cold temperatures," Renner said. "I've had people call me up and say they put in plants and they've just shriveled and died because it's so cold and wet."

The few nice days Seattle's had of late seem to be followed almost immediately by clouds, showers and high temps dropping back into the 50s. "This has been the first real streak where we've had several nice days in a row," Renner said.

But could this be an omen? The sun played a key role in the Mariners' victory Thursday, causing Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter to lose sight of a bottom-of-the-ninth fly ball by Carlos Peguero. The ball dropped in, and Jack Cust scored from third for a 2-1 win.

After Friday, it might be awhile before Seattle gets its next shot at 70 degrees. The Weather Service said the weekend will be mostly cloudy with a chance of showers, with a Saturday high near 60 and Sunday's high in the upper 50s.

Jack Broom: 206-464-2222 or jbroom@seattletimes.com