‘Life-threatening heatwave’ to hit Pacific Northwest TODAY and send temperatures soaring to record levels
A LIFE-threatening heatwave has started to hit the Pacific Northwest and Americans brace for record high temperatures.
Areas like Seattle and Portland are seeing temperatures soar to 30 to 40 degrees above average as the extreme weather is set to continue into next week.
Portland, meanwhile, will see 113-degree temperatures on Sunday, breaking its all-time highest temperature on record.
The NWS tweeted: “Sunday is shaping up to be the hottest day with high temps soaring to an astonishing 105-110 degrees for the interior lowlands.
“Widespread highs at or above 100 degrees are likely on Saturday and Monday as well. STAY COOL!”
According to AccuWeather, average highs in the Northwest region in June usually range in the 70s to the 80s.
“There are typically a few rounds of heat in the Pacific Northwest each summer, but this particular heatwave looks quite extreme," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson.
This extreme heat will be the result of a large northward bulge in the jet stream.
“When the jet stream behaves this way, the air at mid- and upper levels of the atmosphere becomes very warm,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski added.
The blazing temperatures have sent residents in the affected areas scrambling to cooling centers and to stores to purchase air conditioning as they prepare for the unprecedented heat.
AP reports that many Northwesterners don't even own air conditioning, leading to stores in the region selling out of portable air conditioners and fans.
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In Portland, some hospitals have even canceled outdoor vaccination clinics in preparation for the heat as cities in the region opened cooling centers.
Multnomah County also plans to open three cooling centers this weekend, including one at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.