Rare June heat, massive 'heat bubble' set to hit Pacific Northwest
PORTLAND, Ore — Much of the region will experience record-breaking, oppressive temperatures this week as a rare June heat wave -- and a "heat bubble" hits the Pacific Northwest.
The extreme heat we are seeing is typical in late July or August, but we rarely see temperatures this high this early -- and the heat dome might not even budge until later next week, KATU meteorologists say. The last 100-degree heat wave recorded in June was back in 1942!
The seven-day forecast is showing triple-digits in the low end of the possible range, something we rarely see in Portland.
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I believe we could see one of the hottest stretches of weather ever to hit the month of June in our area. It's now looking like a major heat wave will arrive in a few days... and linger for several days," KATU Meteorologist Rhonda Shelby says.
But as with any weather forecasting, it's important to take into consideration that computer models tend to overestimate temperatures during extreme weather events. Just as during snowstorms, models are constantly updating, the same would go for predicting a heat wave. You might even see some numbers as high as 110 or 120 in your weather app, but expect numbers to continue to change and adjust as the week goes on.
A nice push of upper-level cooler air from the coast will be a key factor in cooling our region this week as daytime highs drop back into the mid 80s around the metro area. While we will cool off a bit this week, this weekend will lack that onshore flow -- forcing the extreme heat to just sit over our region.
Here's what KATU meteorologists are thinking for Saturday, Sunday and possibly Monday:
- Southwest Washington/ Washington's valleys: 100-104 degrees -- with Seattle at around 98-101 degrees
- Western Oregon/Willamette Valley/Portland metro area: 102-107 degrees
- Southern Oregon: 110-115 degrees
- Eastern Oregon, The Gorge, Columbia River Basin: 110-115 degrees
