Pacific Northwest Dealing with Hottest Weather of the Year

Posted: August 15, 2023 9:45 am

Millions of Americans living in the Pacific Northwest are under excessive heat alerts to start the new week. Some records could fall as the mercury continues to inch upward.

Seattle, Portland, and More Experiencing Hot Start to the Week

A number of cities are going to be impacted by what will likely end up as the hottest temperatures of the summer. Areas that are expected to see the soaring temperature readings include Seattle, Portland, and Spokane.

Unlike some periods of heat this summer, this wave is expected to hang on for a longer time. This will inevitably make for some uncomfortable conditions in a part of the country where air conditioning is not as widespread.

The excessive heat watches and warnings expand up and down Interstate 5 and across Interstate 90. These alerts encompass an area from Medford, Oregon over into Spokane, Washington.

The stifling heat is the result of a movement in the area of high pressure that had been positioned over the Desert Southwest for most of the summer. This zone is moving to the north, bringing the heat into the Northwest through at least Wednesday.

Widespread Readings in the Triple Digits in the Forecast

How hot will it get? Seattle is forecast to hover near the 90-degree mark on Monday through Wednesday. The hottest day so far in 2023 in the Emerald City happened on July 15 when the mercury hit 91 degrees.

It will be even hotter on the other side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington. For example, the summer vacation spot of Chelan is bracing for a high temperature of 107 degrees on Tuesday. Vacationers will certainly want to take advantage of Lake Chelan to cool off.

The core of the heat will be anchored to the south over places such as Portland, an area that could see all-time readings in August fall. Portland ended the weekend with a high of 101 degrees on Sunday, signaling what lies ahead for the week. Temperatures are expected to climb into the middle to upper 100s on Monday. The all-time August record for Portland is 107 degrees, set on August 8 of 1981.

It will also be excessively hot farther to the south in the Oregon cities of Salem and Eugene. Both of these cities may see the all-time August high of 108 degrees be matched on Monday. Moving down Interstate 5, Medford is forecast to see a high of 111 degrees on Monday, followed by highs of about 107 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday.

It will be Thursday before temperatures come down below the century mark. The historical average for the middle of August in Medford hovers in the low 90s.

Moving inland, you will find the same degree of heat in areas such as Spokane, Washington, and Bend, Oregon. Both of these cities are predicted to flirt with the triple digits for a prolonged period of time.

Even the coastal areas of the region will see temperatures that land above the historical average. For instance, Cannon Beach, Oregon will enjoy readings in the mid 80s on Monday, far above the seasonal norm.

The heat will spread across some areas of Northern California, encompassing Sacramento and beyond. The capital city of California is forecast to experience readings well above 100 degrees for consecutive days. The temperatures will not fall out of the triple digits for highs until Friday.

Potentially Dangerous Impacts of Heat

Heat waves can be particularly dangerous in this part of the nation because of a lack of air conditioning in homes. Vulnerable residents will want to make a plan to seek a cooler area to beat the heat. Many communities will open specially designed cooling centers.

It is also prudent to limit outdoor activity during the peak afternoon heating hours. Drinking plenty of water is also encouraged.

In addition to creating the risk of heat-related illnesses, this dry and hot weather pattern will also raise the risk of wildfire activity across the Northwest. Although it has been a slow start to the wildfire season in the U.S., forecasters are warning that this area is not out of the woods.

The temperatures will begin to drop back to normal levels in the Northwest by the end of the week. Seattle can look forward to temperatures in the upper 70s by Friday. Moisture-rich air will also drop down from British Columbia over the weekend, putting the chance of rain back in the forecast by Monday for the Emerald City.

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