How To Protect Yourself From the Portland Heatwave

Portland has been under an excessive heat warning for days now. And we’ve got one more extremely hot day before we get some relief. Wednesday is expected to only hit the low-90s.

How Hot Will It Get?

Today it’s expected to reach as high as 105 in the Willamette Valley and Hood River. Summers here have been getting hotter.

Meteorologists track the number of 90-degree and 100-degree days in a year. By both measures, Portland has been getting warmer. “Over the past 86 years, Portland has recorded 105 days with temperatures over 100 degrees, but 16 of those days have come in just the last four years,” KGW reports.

How Can You Protect Yourself?

• Make sure you stay hydrated! Drink several glasses of water throughout the day. Don’t wait until you get thirsty or ready to exercise.
• Keep cool and stay inside with air-conditioning. If you don’t have an air-conditioner or it isn’t working properly, you can find cooling centers in Multnomah County, Washington County, and Clackamas County. TriMet is offering free rides to and from cooling shelters.
• Be careful with strenuous activity outside. Take breaks, wear loose and light-fitting clothes, and limit outdoor physical exercise to early morning or evenings.
• Don’t leave pets or children in your car. Temperatures inside a vehicle can rise quickly and result in deadly consequences.
• Check on the elderly and other people with health conditions. Make sure they have proper air-conditioning inside their homes and that they’re staying hydrated.
• Eat lighter meals because hot and heavy meals add more heat to your body.
• Wear sunscreen and continue to reapply if you’re going to be out for long periods of time.