Noaa Nw

A Heatwave Sears the Pacific Northwest

An unprecedented hot spell in the Pacific Northwest of the United States resulted in uncommon extremes of overheating. In Washington and Oregon, the day record was broken as the scorching hot summers in early August raised the temperature slightly above 100°F in many parts of the country's interior. High daylight in the Pacific Northwest of the United States on August 3, 2017.

Above chart shows the high daylight in the Pacific Northwest on August 3, 2017 using NOAA's Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA) measurements. The 3rd of August was the highlight of the hottest period, when the day-to-day record breaking thermals like bowlpin were falling. While there were fluctuations in the sun due to the diverse terrains in the Pacific Northwest, the weather was still quite temperate, from the plains to the interior.

Heating was due to a high pressurized system in the air that kept the sky clear of cloud and solar power heated the area. At Portland, Oregon, the temperature reaches 105°F at the airfield and 103°F in the city center, setting a record in 1952. Salem, Oregon, hit 103 degrees a day.

Eugene, Oregon, passed at 102°F. They also establish day-to-day thermorecords. Medford, Oregon, rose to 112°F, just a few degree below his all-time high. Further northerly and nearer the waters, Seattle achieved 91°F and 94°F on August 2 and 3, which broke and re-established the hot-spots. When British Columbia's weather rose, the fumes from the forest fires in the northern and southern parts of the country threw a misty shade through the area.

Smoking decreased ambient temperature, but had the beneficial side effect of reducing the amount of warmth by reflection of part of the solar power. Whereas the low 100's may seem everyday for a place like Arizona, the Pacific Northwest is not ready for the hottest time. This can lead to problems on extreme hottest summer and still sunny night.

It can be fatal.