PORTLAND, Ore. — People in the Pacific Northwest are trying to stay cool while a heat wave this week brings the hottest temperatures seen so far this summer in Portland. Relief from the stretch of triple-digit weather this month will likely come in August, with temperatures appearing to hold in the 80s.
KGW meteorologist Rod Hill said there are strong indications that the current heat wave "will be the strongest and longest of our summer season."
Portland reached 102 degrees on Tuesday, setting a record for the date and becoming the first 100-degree day of 2022.
An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect through Saturday, meaning temperatures in the Willamette Valley will be near 100 degrees for a total of five days. If Portland climbs to 100 degrees on Wednesday, then five consecutive days of 100-degree weather would tie the record for the longest streak of 100-degree days that was set back in 1941.
The image below shows the July upper flow pattern. The red color offshore is the center of an upper level ridge, which signals the hot weather potential the month of July is producing.
The trough of dipping contour lines in the August outlook flow pattern, seen below, indicates the possibility of a cooler pattern with shower changes.
"If true, August would likely see few hot days reaching 90 degrees and would stand a good chance of not reaching 100 degrees in Portland," said Hill.
According to the current 7-day forecast, Portland could reach 90 degrees or hotter on July 30. If that does happen, it would mark the 15th day this month that the city has recorded temperatures in the range. It would also equal the average number of hot days Portland has had over the past 10 years.
"August 1 is on track to bring much welcome relief with valley temperatures holding in the 80s," said Rod.
