The National Weather Service in Portland has issued excessive heat watch for the Vancouver-Portland area, Columbia River Gorge, Willamette Valley in Oregon and south Washington Cascade foothills. The heat watch goes into effect Thursday morning and continues through Saturday evening.
Dangerously hot conditions are possible in the Pacific Northwest, according to a news release. Though the area is not expected to get the record-breaking heat recorded in June, temperatures in the mid-90s to around 100 degrees are possible.
The National Weather Service said Friday is likely to be the hottest day in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington. The coast and the Cascades will likely be cooler.
Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities, according to the National Weather Service.
Waste Connections announced it will begin its garbage pickup service at 5 a.m. on Thursday and Friday because of the heat and asked customers to be sure to put their containers out early enough for pickup.
Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances, the National Weather Service said in its news release. This is especially true during warm or hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
The Pacific Northwest saw record temperatures at the end of June, with Vancouver setting an all-time heat record of 115 degrees on June 28. The previous record high recorded in Vancouver was 108 degrees in July 2009.
During the heat wave, AMR Portland reported a 120 percent increase in heat-related dispatches compared with the same period in 2020. Those calls made for a 24 percent increase in daily calls for service over this time last year.
Water usage was drastically higher than normal while the “heat dome” settled over the area, hitting more than 33 million gallons per day, up from an average of about 25 million gallons, according to Clark Public Utilities.
