Heat wave scorches US Pacific Northwest, red flag warnings for wildfires

By Darren Lyn

HOUSTON, United States (AA) - The Pacific Northwest states of Oregon and Washington are in the midst of a scorching heat wave Wednesday with temperatures reaching between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit (40-43 degrees Celsius).

That prompted the National Weather Service (NWS) to send out high alerts Wednesday.

"Today is the final day of excessive heat across NW Oregon & SW Washington," National Weather Service Portland said in an X post. "While temperatures won't be quite as hot as the past two days, most locations in the Willamette Valley are expected to reach 100-103°. It is important to continue practicing heat safety!"

This is the second major heat wave this summer for a region that rarely sees these extremely high temperatures.

Portland saw a daily record high of 108 F (42 C) on Tuesday.

Seattle saw a record high of 96 F (35 C) on Monday, which officials said will make it the warmest recorded week for that city this year.

This recent influx of scorching heat made its way into the Pacific Northwest on Sunday, following the excessive heat wave that has plagued a large part of the southern and eastern states the entire summer, from Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana to Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

Officials said the heat will increase wildfire threats in the region and there are currently red flag warnings in effect for high fire danger in western areas of Oregon and Washington.

Less than one-third of residents in Seattle have air conditioning, according to a recent American Housing survey, and authorities strongly advise residents and visitors who do not have access to air conditioning to find a cool location or limit their heat exposure.

The National Weather Service is advising residents to stay in air-conditioned locations, stay hydrated, check on those most vulnerable like the elderly and limit strenuous outdoor activities.

"We want to emphasize HEAT SAFETY," said NWS Portland.