Dig out the fans, shorts and sunscreen: The sun is on its way.
Hot weather is expected to arrive today and last through the weekend, with temperatures up to 80 degrees today and in the lower 90s on Friday, according to a National Weather Service statement. Temperatures are expected to remain in the 80s or lower 90s through the weekend.
The spike in temperature will bring the hottest weather so far this year, said Steve Pierce, a Vancouver resident and president of the Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorological Society.
“It is going to send temperatures soaring,” he said.
Typically, the Portland-Vancouver area gets the hottest temperatures from about July 15 to late August, he said.
This hot spell is predicted to be muggy, with humidity left over from the recent rainfall and warm nights that are slow to cool off, according to the weather service statement. The coast is the only area likely to remain cool.
“Make sure to drink plenty of fluids,” said Liana Ramirez, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland.
Avoid extraneous exercise, keep an eye on children and older people, and avoid hypothermia by not swimming in local rivers and lakes, she said. Jon Bonk of the National Weather Service said the Columbia River temperature was 63 degrees at Washougal on Wednesday.
The influx of heat comes from a strong upper-level ridge of high pressure that is predicted to build north and west from Arizona and Utah, according to the weather statement.
The sweltering days to come are not expected to break any local records, Ramirez said. The record highs for Vancouver are in the 100s this time of year. Most date to 1942, a significant year for temperature records, she said.
Early July temperatures generally stay close to the mid- to upper 70s, Ramirez said. The last time Vancouver saw such an early start to warmer weather was on June 28, 2008, with 101 degrees.
The weather will not be warm enough to open emergency cooling shelters, said Cheryl Bledsoe, emergency division manager at Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency.
The library, mall and other public areas with air conditioning are great places to escape the heat, she said. Make sure to stay hydrated, pay attention to symptoms of heat exhaustion and keep an eye on neighbors, she said.
For more forecast information visit http://weather.gov/portland. The National Weather Service updates its information several times a day.
