With temperatures reaching beyond 100F (37.8C), Seattle, Portland and Pacific north-west cities have shattered every heat record over the weekend.
On Monday, forecasters said the temperature can even get worse as they look at the probability for Seattle to touch 110F (43C), and Portland with 115F (46C). The soaring temperature could stay in some locations until Tuesday.
The skyrocketing heat record was triggered by the spread of “heat dome”.
According to Kristie Ebi, a faculty member at the University of Washington, the long-standing heatwave gives an example of the next few years as the global weather patterns are being affected by climate change.
“This event will likely be one of the most extreme and prolonged heat waves in the recorded history of the inland north-west,” said the National Weather Service. “Heat will not only threaten the health of residents in the Inland Northwest, but will make our region increasingly vulnerable to wildfires and intensify the impacts to our ongoing drought.”
The soaring temperatures pushed Portland officials to close down light rail and streetcars. The summer school bus service was also stopped by the districts, as the public continually gear for the hottest day.
The power grid and overhead wires that run Max trains were also affected, causing the suspension of the service until Tuesday morning.
“The Max system is designed to operate in conditions up to 110F. Forecasts show it will likely only get hotter,” according to the statement by the agency.
In the south-east Portland, almost no person can be spotted in streets during the hottest period on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Customers seemed not to mind visit restaurants with outdoor dining, which used to be flooded with people, as ice cream shops and food vehicles shut their operations down over the weekend.
On Sunday, Portland, Oregon recorded 112F temperature, while Seattle reached 104F.
