Heat will strike Southwest Washington Tuesday as temperatures reach up to 100 degrees.
“It’s going to be quite a bit hotter than normal,” John Bumgardner, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service said. “We actually have a chance at breaking records Tuesday and possibly Wednesday in Vancouver and Portland.”
Temperatures are forecast to hit 100 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday, though the chances of getting into temperatures of 105 and higher are very low, Bumgardner said. The hottest days on record for July 26 and 27 in Vancouver were both in 2020, at 100 degrees and 103 degrees respectively. Temperatures next week aren’t expected to be nearly as high.
This year’s heat wave hits later than in 2021, when the hottest days were in late June and early July. Bumgardner said this is likely because of this year’s wet spring, causing delayed time for the soil to dry. Now that the soil has had time to dry, the Earth’s radiation has increased, resulting in temperatures spikes.
“This time around we’re also getting a little bit of westerly cooling from the ocean,” Bumgardner said. “It’s going to make us a little more humid, and our nights won’t be as cool.”
Energy-saving alternatives
Clark Public Utilities runs a heat pump incentive program for those looking into options for cooling their homes. Both ducted and ductless heat pumps offer an efficient way to heat and cool houses by transferring heat from inside to outside, rather than generating it.
In 2021 the utility fulfilled 1,250 individual program requests, totaling nearly $1.3 million in rebates. The true number of air conditioning units and heat pumps in Clark County is likely much higher, said Dameon Pesanti, media specialist for Clark Public Utilities, but the company doesn’t keep track of when customers install those systems.
“Heat pumps, both ducted and ductless versions, provide air conditioning along with efficient heating,” Pesanti said. “The hot summer we experienced last year is likely also a driver of the more robust program participation.”
Other energy-efficient solutions Pesanti recommends are opening the windows at night and shutting them in the morning before the temperature rises, avoiding using heat-producing appliances such as clothes dryers and stoves and making cold-prep meals.
Those with questions about home cooling options can call Clark Public Utilities’ Energy Counselor of the Day during business hours at 360-992-3355 or email ecod@clarkpud.com.
“Stay out of the sun, hydrate and look after your neighbors, especially the elderly,” Bumgardner said. “And never leave a disabled person, child or animal in the car.”
For those without access to air conditioning, Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency has a list of cooling centers across Clark County that are open to the public. Many offer water stations and some allow well-behaved pets on leashes or in carriers.
