Heat Dome Brings Down Records in Seattle and Portland

Posted: June 29, 2021 11:17 pm

A relentless heat dome has set up over the Pacific Northwest, shattering long-standing temperature records and sending residents scrambling for relief.

Mercury Soars

The mercury is soaring in the Pacific Northwest, breaking records all over the area this weekend. This unprecedented heatwave has the cities of Seattle, Portland, and beyond under its grip. Temperature records began falling on Saturday. The peak of the heat is not expected until Wednesday.

Portland Records

Residents of Portland saw a high of 108 degrees on Saturday, making history as the hottest day ever recorded in the city. On Sunday, the mercury soared to 110 degrees, breaking the record set just the day before.

Monday is forecast to be even hotter in Portland, making it possible that yet another all-time record will be broken. Tuesday’s temperature was an unbelievable 116 degrees.

Seattle Also Dealing with Oppressive Heat

Just up Interstate 5 from Portland, the city of Seattle is also dealing with this record-breaking heat. The Emerald City broke the previous June record high temperature of 96 degrees when it hit 102 on Saturday.

Sunday was another scorcher with highs well over 100 degrees in most parts of the Seattle metro area. The heat index climbed even higher. Seattle is also on track to break records. Monday temps hit 110 degrees, easily eclipsing the all-time high temperature for the city.

Heat Stretching Into Canada

The heat is stretching as far north as Canada. There is a good chance that Monday may break an all-time record high for the entire nation. The current record for all of Canada is 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius), set back on July 5, 1937, in Saskatchewan. Monday’s high-temperature forecast for Kamloops, British Columbia was 112 degrees with Tuesday’s high sitting around 115 degrees, putting the national record within reach.

Lack of Nighttime Cooling

One of the biggest issues associated with this particular heatwave is the lack of nighttime cooling. Throughout the Pacific Northwest, the nighttime lows are not dropping below 70 degrees even in the coolest overnight hours. This makes it difficult for people to cool their homes because the heat continues to build up with no relief.

Air Conditioning Scarce

Another complicating factor of the heatwave is that many residents of this part of the country do not have air conditioning in their homes. Because this type of heat is so unprecedented, air conditioning is not as common as it is in other parts of the country. For example, only about 35% of homes in Seattle enjoy central air. The lack of air conditioning is even more prominent within the area’s most vulnerable populations.

Officials React to Heatwave

Officials across the region are urging residents to take care during the extreme heat. Many cities have set up cooling centers to provide places for vulnerable people to escape the weather. It is also important for residents to be diligent about staying hydrated.

When Will the Relief Come

The oppressive heat is expected to continue into Tuesday before it begins to slightly lift. However, the temperatures will remain well above average throughout the Pacific Northwest and western Canada for at least one week. The bulk of Tuesday’s heat will shift slightly to the west with the extreme heat reaching Boise, Idaho; Spokane, Washington; and Helena, Montana

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