PORTLAND, Ore. — Over the next few days, an August heat wave for the metro area could tie an all-time record for consecutive triple-digit days recorded at the Portland International Airport (PDX), according to the latest forecast from KGW meteorologist Joe Raineri.
Sunday afternoon topped out at 100 degrees, the first triple-digit temperature recorded at PDX this summer.
Current weather models put temperatures at the PDX airport between 100 and 110 degrees Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Portland could see highs close to 100 on Thursday, too. If the triple-digit heat continues into a fifth day on Thursday, PDX would tie a record for consecutive days with highs 100 degrees or warmer first set in July 1941.
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The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch for Monday through Wednesday, including inland areas of Eugene north to Longview and east in the gorge to Hood River.
If PDX sees triple-digit temperatures each day through Thursday, it would also tie a separate record for the total number of days with temperatures of 100 degrees or higher recorded in one year. That record of five total days has been set four times before: in 1941, 1977, 2021 and 2022.
It was in 2021 that Portland experienced a deadly heat dome, with Multnomah County reporting 72 heat-related deaths that year. Temperatures at PDX hit an all-time record of 116 degrees during that event. Though the heat dome stands out as a particularly deadly event, there were heat-related deaths during the triple-digit temperatures in 2022 as well.
The excessive heat and dry conditions next week will result in elevated fire danger.
While this stretch of heat prevails over the greater Portland area, the coast is likely to see cooler and foggy weather — although sunny periods of 80- to 90-degree weather at the beach are also possible. A nice cool-off is on track for the following weekend, including the chance of rain.
This summer, Portland has had 14 days of 90-degree heat so far. Prior to Sunday, the hottest day was July 5, when temperatures reached 98 degrees, according to Hill. Highs have mostly held in the low to mid 90s.
