Portland is about to feel the burn as temperatures soar to 96 degrees this weekend

Temperatures in Portland could surpass 90 degrees this weekend for

the first time all year

.

The forecast from the National Weather Services says Saturday is expected to hit 89 degrees and Sunday could be as hot as 96.

June temperatures in Portland are typically anchored in the low to mid-70s, according to weather service meteorologist David Bishop, but it’s not unusual to see 90-degree days before summer officially begins.

Nonetheless, officials are reminding people to prepare as they

recreate on local rivers and lakes

or perhaps take in the

Portland Rose Festival’s Grand Floral Parade

.

“More people die in heat-related weather events than hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, you name it,” Bishop said.

Multnomah County health officials urge people to have a plan for staying cool. They also encourage people to check out the county’s

cooling map

to find safe spaces to escape the heat.

In 2024, 170 people visited a hospital or urgent-care center due to heat-related illnesses, up from 141 in 2023, according to Multnomah County health officials.

Anyone looking to cool off in a river or lake should

use extra care

.

Cold water shock happens when a person enters water that is drastically colder than their body temperature. This can cause issues with breathing, heart rate and blood pressure — and lead to drowning.

Snow run-off still flows through the Willamette and Columbia rivers, and temperatures in them have hovered around 65 to 66 degrees over the past three days, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Water safety officials urge everyone to wear life jackets and avoid or limit alcohol consumption while on the water.

More hot days could be in store in the weeks ahead.

According to the weather service, Portland has recorded more 100-degree days in the past several years.

The 2020s notched 20 days of 100-degree weather, almost double the 11 that occurred in the 2010s.

— Quinton Prudhomme is a reporter on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach him at ​​503-221-8002 or


qprudhomme@oregonian.com


.

Oregon weather

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