We now have “Extreme Heat Warnings” and instructions to stay in the shade or cooler areas and drink fluids. Because no one can figure these things out on their own in 2026. We have become a nation of coddled idiots.
The media presents this as if its full scale crisis. Most real people seem to get it – read the comments! Portland eyes possible 100-degree heat Sunday and Monday, cool down starts Wednedsay (that is not how Wednesday is spelled, by the way!)
80% of Portland area homes have AC, up from about 40+% 15 years ago.
June 12, 2026
Extreme Heart Warning
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Portland OR
1036 AM PDT Fri Jun 12 2026
ORZ109>112-120-WAZ206-207-209-131200-
/O.CON.KPQR.XH.W.0001.260614T1800Z-260617T0600Z/
Tualatin Valley-Portland West Hills and Chehalem Mountain-Inner
Portland Metro-East Portland Metro-West Columbia River Gorge I-
84 Corridor-Inner Vancouver Metro-East Clark County Lowlands-West
Columbia River Gorge SR 14 Corridor-
Including the cities of Tigard, Cascade Locks, Rooster Rock,
Hillsboro, Sylvan Hill, Cape Horn, Salmon Creek, Bonneville,
North Bonneville, Stevenson, Gresham, Evergreen, Rockcreek,
Camas, Washougal, Sellwood, Beacon Rock SP, Sherwood, Fairview,
Troutdale, Multnomah Falls, Vancouver, Oregon City, Portland,
Skyline Drive, Chehalem Mountain, Forest Grove, Happy Valley,
Lake Oswego, and Eagle Creek
1036 AM PDT Fri Jun 12 2026
...EXTREME HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM SUNDAY TO 11 PM
PDT TUESDAY...
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures of 95 to 99
degrees F expected.
* WHERE...Portland Metro Lowlands, Western Columbia River Gorge,
Portland West Hills and Chehalem Mountain, Inner Vancouver Metro,
and East Clark County Lowlands.
* WHEN...From 11 AM Sunday to 11 PM PDT Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during
extreme heat events.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Peak heating days will be Sunday and Monday
with a slight cool down on Tuesday. Overnight temperatures will
remain elevated Sunday night into Monday morning, and Monday night
into Tuesday morning. Night time temperatures ranging from 63 to
67 degrees F will lead to poor overnight relief. There is
currently a 15-30% chance that night time temperatures remain
above 70 degrees F Sunday night into Monday morning, and less than
a 10% chance Monday night into Tuesday morning. There is a 30-40%
chance of high temperatures of 100 degrees F or more on Monday.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in a cool place during the heat of the
day, stay out of the sunshine, and check up on relatives and
neighbors. For those without air conditioning, use fans to keep air
moving. Keeps windows closed during the day and open at night,
unless air quality is degraded due to wildfire smoke.
Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car
interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose
fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning
or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.
To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in
shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat
should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an
emergency! Call 9 1 1.
Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay informed.
Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates.
If you do not have air conditioning in your home or lack shelter,
you can call 211 for assistance locating appropriate shelter from
the heat.
How Does This Compare to the Past Before “Extreme Heat Warnings?”
How many days of above 95 degree F temperatures occurred in the past?
Roughly 300–500 days (estimated), with data covering ~85–88 years of reliable records (primarily 1940–2025/2026 at Portland International Airport/PDX). Exact totals for exactly 100 years aren’t directly published in a single source, but we can piece it together from available climate summaries.
Portland’s official temperature records at the airport (PDX) begin in 1940 (with some downtown data going back further to the 1870s, but airport is the standard for modern comparisons).
Key Data Points:
- Days ≥90°F: Significantly more common. From 1941–2022 (~82 years), there were 1,018 such days (~12.5 per year on average). The 2010s alone had 169. Recent years average 17–25+ per year, with strong upward trends due to warming.
- Days ≥95°F (including 95–99°F and 100°F+): Far rarer. No single public total was found for the full period, but:
- 100°F+ days: ~101 days from 1941–2022 (~1.2 per year average). Tied records for most in a year (e.g., 1941, 1977, 2021, 2022).
- 95–99°F days: These make up the bulk of ≥95°F days. The Oregonian’s interactive chart (1938–2026) breaks down hot days by decade with separate bars for 100+, 95–99, and 90–94, showing they occur in clusters during heat waves but are infrequent outside of July/August.
- NWS Portland’s Climate Book (updated through ~2023/2024) tracks days ≥90°F monthly/yearly (with most/least extremes) but provides frequency tables and consecutive streaks rather than a grand total for ≥95°F. Heat waves like 7 consecutive ≥95°F days (2022 record) or 6 days (1941/1981) highlight rarity.
Trends and Context:
- Portland is hotter: ~12 more ≥90°F days per year now vs. 1940; similar (though smaller) increases for higher thresholds. Summers have warmed.
- Most occur in July/August during multi-day heat events. 95°F+ is “rare” in typical years but more frequent recently (e.g., multiple streaks in the 2010s–2020s).
- For a full 100-year span (e.g., ~1925–2025), pre-1940 downtown records would add a small number (likely fewer extreme hot days in earlier cooler decades).
