National Weather Service issues extreme heat watch for Oregon's Willamette Valley
Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures between 95 and 105 degrees are possible across much of northwest Oregon, including the northern and central Willamette Valley.
The highest chances are in the Portland/Vancouver metro area and Columbia River Gorge.
Low temperatures between 65 to 70 degrees may occur in the evening of July 15, which would limit overnight relief.
Both daily high and nightly low temperatures are considered when determining an extreme heat watch should be issued, according to Lee Picard, lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Portland.
"(A low of) 65 is an important threshold for us," he said. "If it doesn't go below that, it's difficult for people to cool down overnight."
An extreme heat watch doesn't mean extreme heat will definitely occur, Picard said. It is issued ahead of time, in this case six days in advance, to allow people to prepare for a potentially dangerous event.
High and low temperatures factor into an index known as HeatRisk, which provides a forecast of heat-related impacts in a 24-hour period. The formula accounts for climatic factors as well, like how unusual extreme heat is during a particular time of years. If the HeatRisk in an area falls into the two highest categories, major or extreme, it meets the criteria for a hazardous event.
"A watch is when a hazardous event is possible. We usually say about 50% likely that it will occur," Picard said.
Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events, the National Weather Service said.
The agency advised people to drink plenty of fluids and to stay out of the sun in a cool place during the heat of the day and check up on relatives and neighbors.
For those without air conditioning, people should use fans to keep air moving and keep windows closed during the day and open at night, unless air quality is degraded due to wildfire smoke.
"Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles," the alert from NWS said. "Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes."
Rose Shimberg is an outdoors journalism intern at the Statesman Journal. Reach her at rshimberg@salem.gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: NWS issues extreme heat watch for Oregon's Willamette Valley
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Severe thunderstorm warning in effect for Greater Cincinnati
The Greater Cincinnati area is under a severe thunderstorm warning on Saturday, July 12, until 4:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. The agency is reporting wind gusts up to 60 mph, with damage possible to trees and power lines. This alert includes Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren county neighborhoods including Cincinnati, Hamilton, Fairfield, Mason, Lebanon, Norwood, Forest Park, Sharonville, Monroe, Blue Ash, Loveland, Springdale, Reading, Montgomery, North College Hill, Madeira, Wyoming, Milford, Mount Healthy and Deer Park. Interstate 71 between mile markers 7 and 31 and Interstate 75 between mile markers 6 and 26 will also be affected, according to the National Weather Service. While the weather alert is in effect, the National Weather Services recommends residents move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building for their safety. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Weather: Cincinnati area under severe thunderstorm warning
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Green Fire update: Blaze burning 5,914 acres in Shasta-Trinity forest
The Green Fire continued to spread north of Lake Shasta on Friday, with no containment, as temperatures soared and light wind picked up. The wildfire burning in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest grew to 5,914 acres overnight, up from 5,037 acres Thursday afternoon, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The Green Fire remained east of Interstate 5 and 8 miles west of Montgomery Creek in Shasta County. It's burning in an area northeast of Gray Rocks and west of Fenders Ferry Road, firefighters reported. Crews are battling very dry conditions, made worse by a heat wave that began Thursday. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for Shasta County and throughout the North State, in effect through 11 p.m. Monday. Afternoon temperatures in the Redding area warm to 110 on Friday, with weekend highs around 108, according to the forecast. People should stay indoors in air conditioning during hottest times of the day to avoid heat-related health issues, public health branches cautioned. When they do go outdoors, people should also avoid breathing Green Fire and other wildfire smoke, Shasta County Public Health announced. Visitors should avoid fire areas and watch for emergency vehicles, Shasta-Trinity National Forest staff cautioned. More: Poor air quality affects you even if you don't smell smoke, California: Air pollution explained The forest service closed trails and campgrounds near the fire, including the Hirz Recreation Complex, Chirpchatter Campground and picnic area, Potem Falls Trail and Madrone Campground and picnic area. An evacuation warning issued by the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, remained in place Friday morning. People in Zone LKH-1448 — between Montgomery Creek and O'Brian/Interstate 5 — should be prepared to evacuate if the county instructs them to do so, the sheriff's office said. That zone is north of Bully Hill; south of Satin Peak and Bagley Mountain; east of Nosoni, Salt Creek and Minnesota Mountains; and west of Kettle Mountain. The fire started on July 1 north of the Pit River arm of Lake Shasta, and south of the Chirpchatter Campground, according to the forest service. That area is about 8 miles west of Round Mountain, according to Cal Fire maps. Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know. Evacuation orders and warnings are called by zone. To find out your zone, type your address at If you're away from home and not sure of your address, users can find their location on the site's map. Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding's Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Green Fire in Shasta County spreads to 5,914 acres with no containment
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Redding heat wave peaks with 110 degrees, as smoky air drifts over North State
The smoke from the Green Fire that's covering greater Redding and choking the air quality is expected to linger most of the weekend, with nights likely getting worse. That's according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, which also placed the Redding area and parts of Northern California under an excessive heat warning that lasts through 11 p.m. Monday. Afternoon temperatures in the Redding area could heat up to 110 on Friday afternoon, 108 over the weekend and will be accompanied by gusty wind, said Nathan Rick, meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Sacramento branch. People should stay indoors in air conditioning during the hottest hours of the day to avoid heat-related health issues, public health branches cautioned. Note to readers: We've made this story free as an important public service to our North State communities. If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know. Wind gusts of up to 20 mph on Friday won't give anyone much respite when it's that hot. Those winds continue through Saturday, then gain more strength on Sunday, gusting up to 25 mph, Rick said. It's possible smoke from the Green Fire could help lower temperatures, but that same smoke is polluting the air over Shasta County, according to the Shasta County Air Quality Management District. The county advised people, especially those with health issues, to stay indoors when air is polluted. The smoky air will stick around most of the weekend, with the worst of it at nighttime. That's when light wind blows Green Fire smoke to the south over the city and down the Sacramento Valley, Rick said. Those winds then turn to the north and northeast during the day, sending smoke rolling into Siskiyou and Modoc counties, he said. Those drying winds coupled with the baking heat could help the Green Fire spread over the weekend, according to the weather service and the U.S. Forest Service. That doesn't mean the fire will grow in the same direction the wind is blowing in Redding, Rick said. Forest service firefighters report the Green Fire is burning through deep rugged terrain that twists the direction winds move. That makes it hard to predict exactly where the wildfire will grow, he said. Some good news: The heat wave ends on Tuesday or Wednesday. Afternoon temperatures will stay below 100 degrees for most of the week, with nighttime temperatures dropping into the mid- to upper 60s, according to the forecast. Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding's Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Smoky air drifts over Redding as excessive heat warning hits area
