Hot.

That's the outlook around the Puget Sound area Friday, as the likelihood of a second straight day in the 90s has prompted a continued "excessive heat warning" from the National Weather Service and a call from local officials to limit exposure to the heat and to check on vulnerable neighbors and relatives.

The Seattle area recorded its hottest day of the year Thursday, with a high of 94 recorded in late afternoon at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the official recording station.

That's 17 degrees higher than normal for the date, but below the record of 98, set in 1967. Friday's high is expected to approach 93. The record for the date, 96, was set in 1977.

Southwest Washington sizzled Thursday, with highs of 100 in Vancouver and Castle Rock, 98 in Chehalis and 95 in Olympia.

Relief from the scorching temperatures is expected Saturday, when Sea-Tac's high is forecast at 81.

But Saturday also brings a chance of thunderstorms. Dennis D'Amico, Weather Service meteorologist, said thunderstorms could start early in the day in the central and southern Cascades, and spread to all of Western Washington by evening.

Two days in the 90s might not constitute a heat wave in much of the country, but in Western Washington, where few homes have air conditioning and the normal midsummer high is 77, anything over 90 can be jarring.

Local officials suggested beating the heat by dropping into a senior center, library, shopping mall or other locations that have air conditioning.

If the forecast holds, Friday would be this month's fourth day in the 90s. The high temperature hit 93 on Aug. 4 and 5.

By Sunday — and well into next week — a more typical August pattern of sunny skies and highs in the mid-70s is forecast.

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