What the heat dome tells us about Oregon’s future climate

Two people lying in cots face away from the camera.  The person on the right has a hand resting on the shoulder of the person to the left

People made use of a cooling center at the Oregon Convention Center during Portland's unprecedented heat wave on Monday, June 28, 2021. The building's air conditioning provided relief from temperatures that rose to record levels.

The heat dome that brought record-shattering temperatures to Portland and much of the Pacific Northwest a year ago was an outlier among outliers.

Scientists worked quickly to figure out exactly what happened to spike temperatures as much as 30 degrees Fahrenheit above normal and kill hundreds across the region.

Portland Heat Week
Portland’s inaugural Heat Week, to remember those who died in the heat dome and to prepare for future heat waves, kicks off Sunday with a commemoration at Leach Botanical Gardens. Events run throughout the week with a virtual panel Monday on climate change and mental health; a bike ride Tuesday from the Lents neighborhood to Laurelhurst Park; a free online training Wednesday about how to render first-aid to people suffering from heat stroke; and a virtual discussion Thursday to reflect on Portland’s warming future.
Details for all the events and how to sign up are available at heatweek.org.

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