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The sun is here, introduce yourself (it's been awhile)

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Time to get reacquainted with the sun. We'll have at least the next few days to do so ... so take your time.

The forecast is for plenty of sun for today and days to come.

As KPLU forecaster and University of Washington professor Cliff Mass put it in his blog: It happens almost every year, and we sometimes lose faith that it will occur.

"Often, as in this year, it happens right after July 4th, and almost certainly by mid-July, resulting in the oft-noted statement by the meteorological cognoscenti that summer starts on July 12th in western Washington."

Why does it take until early July to feel like summer? Mass explains that, as well as why the Northwest is immune to the storms called "derechos" that hit the east coast last week, in this week's weather conversation.

Mass is predicting temperatures in the upper 70's to low 80's for most of the Puget Sound region, and warmer as you get farther from the marine waters. It'll cool off slightly on Monday or Tuesday, but then warm again later in the week, he says.

Do you have a weather question? Cliff Mass and Keith Seinfeld occasionally answer reader questions on the air. Share yours here (at the bottom of the page, where you can sort the questions by "newest to oldest").

The weekly KPLU feature "Weather with Cliff Mass" airs every Friday at 9 a.m. immediately following BirdNote, and repeats twice on Friday afternoons during All Things Considered. The feature is hosted by KPLU’s Science and Health reporter Keith Seinfeld. Cliff Mass is a University of Washington Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, a renowned Seattle weather prognosticator, and a popular weather blogger. You can alsosubscribeto a podcast of “Weather with Cliff Mass”shows.

Keith Seinfeld is a former KNKX/KPLU reporter who covered health, science and the environment over his 17 years with the station. He also served as assistant news director. Prior to KLPU, he was a staff reporter at The Seattle Times and The News Tribune in Tacoma and a freelance writer-producer. His work has been honored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Knight Science Journalism Fellowships at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.