“Hot, dry and rather smoky” — that’s what Portland area residents are in for Tuesday, according to National Weather Service meteorologists.
After two days of cooler temperatures on Sunday and Monday, temperatures are expected to spike again into the mid- to upper 90s on Tuesday, before cooling off a bit overnight.
But it’s not expected to stay that way for long.
Meteorologists say that temperatures are supposed to get even hotter on Wednesday and Thursday, with conditions hot enough to “bring an increased risk of heat-related illnesses.”
As heat advisory warnings go into effect in the Portland area through Wednesday night, some places — like the Center for Positive Aging — will be opening cooling centers Wednesday.
Temperatures are expected to stay in the 90s until at least Friday.
In addition to the heat, Portland-area residents venturing outside will be met with smoke from wildfires burning across the Pacific Northwest. As of Tuesday morning, many parts of the Portland metro area have “moderate” air quality index scores ranging from the low 80s to the high 90s, Oregon DEQ data shows.
In some areas, like parts of Beaverton and Estacada, AQI readings are in the low 100s, putting them into the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range. AQIs above 150 are considered “unhealthy,” those above 200 “very unhealthy” and those above 300 are “hazardous.”
For Oregonians without AC, the combination of smoky conditions and extreme heat poses a catch-22: opening windows overnight will let smoke in, but failing to do so will prevent most homes from cooling down in the evening.
The National Weather Service advises anyone who doesn’t have air conditioning to use a box fan in their windows and drape a wet towel over it as a makeshift filter.
