As a heat wave continues in Clark County, forecasters warn real relief from sweltering temperatures likely won’t come until Monday.
The National Weather Service predicts temperatures between 100 and 105 for both Thursday and Friday, with Friday likely to be just a few degrees cooler than Thursday. An Excessive Heat Warning runs through Saturday.
The heat peaked Wednesday at 101 degrees, according to the weather service, to start the three-day triple-digit stretch.
Saturday is expected to break the 100–degree streak with the high for Vancouver forecasted to reach the low- to mid-90s Sunday before turning much cooler.
Monday’s high might not even reach 80 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Haze is also forecasted to settle into the Portland metro skies beginning Thursday afternoon because of wildfires across the Northwest. The U.S. Forest Service predicts air quality to decline into the “moderate” category or even the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range around the Cascade Crest.
“Where there is smoke there is fire, and we’ve got more than a million acres of fire out there,” said Alex Robertson, regional director of fire, fuels and aviation management for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. “With this marathon of a fire year we’re facing, it’s time for Pacific Northwest communities to get smoke-ready for the days and weeks ahead.”
The National Weather Service said Vancouver’s air quality will likely be a little bit worse on Friday than Thursday. The haze could make Friday slightly cooler than Thursday, although the smoke isn’t likely to be very dense.
Smoke-related health symptoms include eye, nose and throat irritation; coughing; wheezing; shortness of breath or headaches. Officials warn those sensitive to poor air quality to limit their exposure to the outdoors or to wear an N95 or KN95 mask outside.
Cooling centers are open across the county for those needing shelter from the heat. People can go to libraries, the mall or cooling shelters. A list of cooling shelters and their hours can be found at cresa911.org/cooling-centers-summer-2021.
Public Health issued water quality warnings for Lacamas and Round lakes for harmful algae blooms. There currently are no warnings for Vancouver Lake, Klineline Pond, Battle Ground Lake or Fallen Leaf Lake.
