The heat wave is starting to crest in Southwest Washington, though with slightly less intensity than forecasters expected earlier in the week.
The temperature Wednesday peaked at 102 degrees just before 5 p.m., and Thursday’s high is expected to be near 104 degrees. The hottest part of the day, like on Wednesday, will be between 4 and 6 p.m.
It’s definitely hot, but not enough to surpass the all-time record of 108 set in 2009. Wednesday’s high fell short of the record for Aug. 2 (103 degrees, set in 1939), but Thursday’s high temperature could break the Aug. 3 record of 100 degrees, set in 1952.
The National Weather Service is also warning that wildfires in British Columbia and the Whitewater Fire burning east of Detroit, Ore., are pushing smoke into Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon. Those fires are reducing air quality in some places, but they also are a reason behind the slightly lower temperatures and adjusted forecast.
“We took into account there’s going to be some smoke across a good portion of the Willamette Valley. That’ll lower the potential for high temperatures by a degree or two,” said David Bishop, a meteorologist with the weather service. “Still extremely hot, but not as hot.”
The Southwest Washington Clean Air Agency has issued an air-pollution advisory in because of the smoke and ozone created by high temperatures.
“This advisory, for wildfire smoke throughout Southwest Washington and ground-level ozone (smog) in Vancouver is expected to last through Tuesday,” the news release said. “However, above-90 temperatures and wildfires, which contribute to deteriorating air quality levels, are expected to linger through next week.”
Ozone levels in Vancouver are expected to continue to increase in Vancouver, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups — people with compromised respiratory systems. However, others in the county are still showing good air quality.
The weather service has issued an excessive-heat warning through 11 p.m. Friday and a Red Flag warning for multiple fire-weather hazards in Southwest Washington through 11 p.m. Thursday.
The elderly, young children and animals are particularly vulnerable to the severe weather. The weather service is urging people to drink plenty of water and find a cool place to escape the heat.
