‘Urban heat islands’ in Portland’s east side will suffer brunt of heat wave, researchers warn
PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - As the Portland metro may be headed into a potential triple-digit weekend, researchers warn that people in what are known as ‘urban heat islands’ will feel the worst of it.
People who live and work on the east side of Portland said experiencing the deadly 2021 heat dome has put them on high alert during stretches of hot weather.
Phil works on the east side.
“When that happened a couple of years ago, it was a little concerning,” Phil said. “Now, that that’s happened, I’ve kind of learned what to do. Stay in the shade. Don’t overwork yourself.”
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According to Portland State University researchers, those places considered urban heat islands can run 10 to 20 degrees hotter than other areas in Portland.
Many of those hotter pockets are on the east side of town, some neighborhoods like Parkrose and Lents, and surrounding areas.
“I’m here to help out with the homeless community,” said Belle, who lives nearby. “We all need to make sure we all take care of each other, especially the elderly and the disabled. Get some cold water out to these guys.”
According to Multnomah County and PSU, some factors for this effect are high concentrations of asphalt, large buildings and the lack of trees.
Cameron Starr of Energy Trust of Oregon provided some tips on staying cool.
“Use your windows wisely. Make sure at night, when it is getting colder, have that fresh cold air come into the house,” Starr said. “Portland Clean Energy Fund has a free air conditioning program, where folks if you’re income-qualified, you can get an air conditioner for free. You also want to be aware that a lot of communities have cooling centers that are activated during this time.”
People who live in these heat islands also said they are making sure their pets stay cool.
“Drinking lots of water and hopefully making sure we stay hydrated,” said a neighbor who brought their dog to the park.
Lists and maps of all cooling shelters and splash pads for the full metro area can be found here.
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