It’s hot, Portland — and it’s getting hotter.
Daytime highs have only ever reached 100° twice in September — in 1988 and 1944 — but Thursday, Sept. 5 and Friday, Sept. 6 are both expected to reach triple digits. Speaking of sizzling records, we’re staying inside and looking back at some of the headlines on the hottest days we’ve ever had here in the Rose City.
The day the heat set records
Portland’s hottest day on record took place on June 28, 2021, when temperatures hit a record-breaking 116° during the deadly heat dome event. Pavement buckled, streetcar cables melted, and many people who didn’t have AC died. It was the apex of a period that saw all-time records fall the two days prior at 108° and 112°.
That sure puts this weather in perspective (even if it’s still scorching). The closest we’ve come to that temperature this summer was when temps got to 103° on Tuesday, July 9. That date was one of 21 days above average, making it the hottest July on record.
High pressure prevented the formation of clouds and maximized solar heating near the summer solstice during the 2021 heatwave.
Photo by Mark McClure
What the headlines said
Looking back, the main stories were centered around the city’s efforts to provide shelter for those most at risk, while offering ways to stay cool at home. Another tried to grapple with the unprecedented nature of what was happening by finding 10 other notoriously hot places around the world (think Las Vegas and Cairo, Egypt) that were actually cooler than Portland on that day. This article broke it down by the numbers — the high of 116° to the next day’s low of 64° marks the largest-ever overnight swing in temperatures (52°) in Portland.
How to weather the weather today
Thankfully, we have museums to explore indoors — Portland Art Museum is free on the first Thursday of the month — and underground bars to knock back a cold one.
Don’t forget to check in on our city’s inclement weather resources and take a peek at what the rest of the season has in store for us.
