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The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) warned Monday of a “historic heat wave” with record-breaking temperatures across the Pacific Northwest.
According to the NWS bulletin, the highest temperatures of this heat wave are expected along the Pacific Ocean coast and will move inland on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Cities such as Seattle and Portland could see record highs today.
Forecasters expect temperatures to be five degrees Celsius (30 degrees Fahrenheit) above seasonal averages in both Washington and Oregon states, with highs between 38 and 43 degrees Celsius (100 and 110 Fahrenheit).
The weather bulletin says that record high temperatures are expected for the entire historic series, whose records date back to 1940.
The NWS further warns that “this level of heat is extremely dangerous and can be deadly if proper precautions are not taken.”
The city of Seattle recorded a high of 40C (104F) on Sunday, the hottest day since 1945 when official temperature recording began at Seattle Tacoma Airport. The previous record of 19C (103C) was recorded in 2009.
Last Saturday 41 people went to emergency rooms in King County for heat-related ailments, reported James Apa, public health spokesman in that county.
In Portland, more than 6,000 Portland General Electric subscribers were without power last weekend when temperatures rose to 44.5 C (112 F).
