Global Courant 2023-05-13 02:07:36
A heat wave this weekend could top daily records in parts of the Pacific Northwest after wildfires burned across Western Canada. 800 people died in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia during the late June and early July weather event of 2021. Northwest residents and officials have been trying to adjust to the likely reality of more frequent heat waves following the fatal “heat dome” weather event that led to record temperatures and deaths in 2021.
A heat wave in early May this weekend could surpass daily records in parts of the Pacific Northwest and exacerbate wildfires already burning in western Canada, a historically temperate region struggling with scorching summer temperatures and unprecedented wildfires sparked in recent years by climate change.
“We’re looking at record-breaking temperatures,” said Miles Higa, a meteorologist at the Portland office of the National Weather Service, describing the warmth as “unusual for this time of year.”
The unusually high temperatures could further fuel dozens of fires in Canada’s western province of Alberta, where officials have ordered evacuations and declared a state of emergency. Residents and officials in the Northwest have been trying to adapt to the likely reality of longer, hotter heat waves following the deadly 2021 “heat dome” weather phenomenon that led to record temperatures and deaths across the region.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory Friday through Monday for much of the western portions of both Oregon and Washington state. It said the temperatures could raise the risk of heat-related illness, especially for those who are dehydrated or lack effective cooling.
Temperatures in Portland, Oregon, are expected to hover around 94 F all weekend, according to the website of the National Weather Service office there. The current daily temperature records for May 13 and 14 stand at 92 F and 91 F from 1973 and 2014, respectively.
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Temperatures in the Seattle area could also meet or exceed daily records, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Jacob DeFlitch. The mercury could reach near 85 F on Saturday and hit the low 90s on Sunday, he said.
King County, home to Seattle, instructed carriers such as bus drivers to let people ride for free if they’re looking for a respite from the heat or on their way to a cooling center. The city’s regional homeless authority said several cold storage and day centers will be open across the country.
Authorities also urged people to be wary of cold water temperatures should they be tempted to swim in the river or lake to cool off.
“Rivers are still cold. We have snow melting and temperatures … probably in the low to mid 40s right now,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Higa. “You’re nice and warm and jump into the cold water — that could put you at risk for a cold water shock.”
Residents and officials in the Pacific Northwest have become more vigilant about heat wave preparations after some 800 people died in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia during heat dome weather in late June and early July 2021. Temperatures then rose to an all-time high – time high of 116 F in Portland and broke heat records in cities and towns across the region. Many of the deceased were elderly people living alone.
In this photo, provided by the Alberta Government Fire Department, a wildfire burns in the Grande Prairie district of Alberta, Canada, on May 6, 2023. (Government of Alberta Fire Department/The Canadian Press via AP, file)
In response, Oregon passed a law requiring all new homes built after April 2024 to have air conditioning in at least one room. The law already prohibits landlords in most cases from prohibiting tenants from installing refrigeration equipment in their rental units.
Last summer, Portland launched a heat response program aiming to install portable heat pumps and refrigeration units in low-income households, prioritizing residents who are older and living alone, as well as those with underlying health conditions. Local nonprofits participating in the program installed more than 3,000 units last year, according to the city’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.
One of those nonprofits, Verde, said interest in the units was high. Verde has installed about 180 units so far this year, and their waiting list was nearly 500 people long last year, said Ricardo Moreno, a project manager for the group who oversees the heat response program.
“People we spoke to, mostly older people with certain health conditions, all shared that having these units made a world of difference and definitely improved their quality of life over the summer,” Moreno said.
Another local nonprofit, the African American Alliance for Homeownership, installed 1,200 units last year and 75 units so far this year, said program manager Richard Hines-Norwood.
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Officials in Multnomah County, home to Portland, said they have no plans to open dedicated cold storage centers for now, but are keeping an eye on the forecast and can do so if necessary.
“This is the first major event … and it’s early for us,” said Chris Voss, the county’s director of emergency management. “We don’t see a situation where we hear that this is extremely dangerous. That said, we don’t know if it’s going to drift.”
Outreach teams have begun visiting homeless camps to educate them about the resources available to them, Voss said. Air-conditioned libraries are an example of a public place for people to cool down, he added.