Authorities said on Saturday that at least seven people in Oregon are thought to have passed away this week as a result of heat-related problems during a period of several days of sweltering weather.
According to the Oregon State Police, the seven deaths, which are tentatively considered to be the result of hyperthermia, happened between July 25 and July 29. Four of the fatalities took place in the Portland metro area, two in Marion County, which is located immediately south of Portland, and one in Umatilla County in eastern Oregon.
According to state police, autopsies will be performed to ascertain the precise causes of death. The Office of the State Medical Examiner in Oregon keeps records of fatalities brought on by heat.
The whole week, Portland’s temperatures have been in the triple digits or above, with a high of 102 degrees recorded on Tuesday.
With temperatures predicted to climb as high as 103 degrees, the National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for the Portland and Seattle, Washington, regions through late Sunday night. With six straight days of temperatures over 95 degrees, Portland-based NWS meteorologist Shawn Weagle said on Saturday that the area has likely equaled its record for the lengthiest heat wave. Weagle predicted that a new record may be broken on Sunday.
Only dipping to approximately 70 degrees at night, the temperatures have stayed exceptionally high throughout the day, making it difficult for homeowners to fully cool their houses before the sun rises, according to Weagle. The area has several houses without air conditioning.
The lack of recuperation at night, according to Weagle, is a problem that has become more prevalent with recent heatwaves. “That has a significant influence on those without air conditioning. Due to the dense construction in downtown Portland, concrete there cools down more slowly at night than it would in a rural valley or even a suburban area. This phenomenon is known as the “urban island effect.””
Weagle noted that the general strength of the region’s heat waves seemed to be increasing. He anticipates that the scorching weather will abate by mid-week.
“Right now, it’s looking like Tuesday, we’ll start to get closer to normal but still in the 80’s, and by Wednesday we should be a touch below normal temperatures,” he said.
Weagle advised people to remain hydrated, take precautions to keep cool, and keep an eye on their neighbors, especially the elderly and others who are more susceptible to heat-related ailments.
According to climate experts, climate change is causing prolonged heat waves in the Pacific Northwest, an area where weeklong hot spells were previously uncommon.
Following last summer’s catastrophic “heat dome” weather event, which led to record temperatures and fatalities, residents and policymakers in the Northwest have been attempting to adapt to the likely reality of longer, harsher heat waves.
During the heat wave, which occurred in late June and early July, almost 800 people perished in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. In Portland, the temperature at the time reached an all-time high of 116 degrees, shattering heat records in towns and cities around the region. Many of those who passed away were elderly and single.