An Extreme Heat Watch is now in effect for the Portland metro area and Columbia River Gorge as the first Pacific Northwest heat wave of the summer moves in with the chance of daily record highs this weekend. Forecasters say the hottest weather of the year so far is on the way, with the threat stretching into the start of next week.
Bobby Corser said the region is looking at the hottest weather of the year so far, and that the first long stretch of summer weather is arriving right on cue after the Rose Festival low. The heat is expected to begin building Saturday, when afternoon highs top out in the lower 90s, then climb into the upper 90s on Sunday, with some places possibly reaching triple digits.
By Monday, triple-digit temperatures are more likely as offshore flow reaches its peak intensity. Tuesday should bring onshore flow back into the picture, but highs are still expected to reach the 90s before the first meaningful relief arrives Wednesday, when temperatures should ease into the lower 80s.
The National Weather Service in Portland has extended the watch south to the central Willamette Valley and north along the Columbia River, signaling that the threat is not limited to the city center. The warning is aimed at people who may be tempted to cool off outdoors, especially families and pet owners trying to get through the hottest stretch of the season.
That is where the weather looks one way and the water another. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwest Division says the Willamette River in Portland is still 65 degrees, and several other rivers and lakes across the region are in the 50s, cold enough to pose a serious risk even as air temperatures surge into the 90s and beyond.
The weather service warned people not to leave young children or pets in unattended vehicles, saying car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. With some locations nearing triple digits and the hottest conditions likely to peak Monday, the next question is how long the watch will remain in place if the heat holds into next week.
