A pair of 90-degree days earlier this month offered Clark County a fleeting taste of summer heat.
Now comes the real thing.
A bona fide heat wave this weekend could push temperatures into triple digits for the first time in three years, forecasters said. Saturday is expected to be the hottest day, with a predicted high of 100 degrees in Vancouver, according to the National Weather Service. That would also break the temperature record for that date, according to the weather service.
The last time Vancouver hit the century mark: Aug. 16, 2012, when the temperature peaked at 100 degrees. (The city also hit 103 degrees on Aug. 4 of that year. Vancouver’s all-time high is 108 degrees, set July 29, 2009.)
This week’s temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-90s starting Friday, and the heat will stay in place “for several days,” said Matthew Cullen, a meteorologist with the weather service in Portland. Vancouver could see at least five consecutive days above 90 — including Saturday’s scorcher.
People should take advantage of air conditioning if they have it, or seek respite in a place that does, Cullen said. Residents should drink plenty of water and take proper precautions if they’re planning to be outside, he added.
The evening and early-morning hours may not offer much relief. Temperatures are expected to drop only into the mid- to upper 60s, according to the weather service.
“The overnight lows are going to be quite warm,” Cullen said.
The coming heat and growing fire danger prompted Clark County to announce an immediate ban on outdoor burning starting Tuesday. Typically, the county restricts burning between July 15 and Sept. 30 each year.
“Looking at the current conditions along with the extended forecast, I feel we need to implement this ban immediately,” Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway said in a statement. “The mild winter and dry conditions warrant extra vigilance this year.”
The ban applies to all burning to clear land. All burning permits issued this year are being canceled, according to the county. Recreational fires, however, are still allowed in approved fire pits and within certain guidelines.
As the heat cranks up, it’s not yet clear when conditions will cool back down. High temperatures are expected to stay above 90 well into next week, according to the weather service.
