Record-breaking heat hits Pacific Northwest

A record-breaking heat wave is surging throughout the Pacific Northwest, The Associated Press reported on Sunday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has been sharing the latest on the heat wave impacting wide swaths of the Northwest.

We are still expecting record-breaking overnight lows across northern & possibly central portions of the Willamette Valley tonight. The Portland metro area will struggle to fall below 80 degrees tonight, & will rise to around 115 degrees tomorrow, while Eugene gets some “relief.” pic.twitter.com/jtP2SHaNEL

— NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) June 27, 2021

Some locations are forecasted to exceed their hottest all-time record high today. If you’re tracking, all-time records that may be broken for official climate sites:

Forecast / All-Time Highs

Seattle: 104 / 103
Olympia: 107 / 104
Bellingham: 97 / 96
Hoquaim: 96 / 95#WAwx

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) June 27, 2021

NWS Portland reported that the city has reached 112 degrees, making it the hottest day on record since 1940, and NWS Seattle shared that the city temperature has reached 104 degrees at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 

The record-breaking heat has caused COVID-19 testing centers to close in King County, Wash., and Seattle is opening more public libraries as additional cooling centers, according to the AP. 

This comes as the ongoing heat wave is moving to other U.S. states, including Idaho, where more than 3,000 athletes are participating in an Ironman Triathlon in Coeur d’Alene. 

Race organizers will provide chilling towels to athletes, and 62,000 pounds of ice will be at hydration and misting stations, where the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department will have 60 crew members at the race instead of the usual 17, the AP noted.