NORTHWEST UNITED STATES - The Northwest is dealing with yet another historic heat wave to close out July. While the current blast of triple digit temperatures will subside next week, this will not be the last we see this summer.
According to The Weather Channel, a strong ridge of high pressure is building over the Northwest as the jet stream presses northward. This then allows temperatures to hit 5 to 20 degrees above average in parts of northern California, Oregon, and Washington into the weekend.
Overall, this is one of the hottest Julys on record in parts of the Northwest. Seattle, WA, and Eugene, OR both saw their hottest July on record, according to data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center. Yakima, WA, Portland, OR also saw their second hottest day on record July 27.
Washington
For parts of central and eastern Washington, this round of hot temperatures probably won't be quite as intense as the late-June record-breaking heat wave. The Weather Channel noted that Yakima peaked at 108 degrees in that heat wave, setting a June record, but this time around highs are forecast to be a “refreshing” 100 to 107 degrees into early next week. Spokane temperatures will stay in the middle 90s to near 100 degrees for the week.
Oregon
For Friday, temperatures will hit 100 degrees for the Portland, OR area, and stay in the upper 90s through the weekend. The National Weather Service even issued an excessive heat warning for the Willamette River Valley of western Oregon. Farther south, Medford, OR could approach 110 degrees Friday, where the high temperature has only reached for nine days since 1911.
California
In Northern California, highs are expected to be in the 110s in Redding, with low 100s forecast in our home-base of Sacramento. Sacramento set a daily record high of 107 degrees on Wednesday, with Redding rounding out at 111 degrees. Temperatures will trend downward in both of these cities by this weekend, but expect it to remain very hot.
Further relief from the heat will come to the entire Northwest next week as the ridge breaks down, but that does not mean an end to additional heat waves, AccuWeather is reporting.
"Heat will come back during the second week of August for about three to four days," said AccuWeather Long Range Expert Paul Pastelok.
Get ready for a hot one, West Coast, and stay tuned for continued updates into August.
