Record-shattering Heat Wave: Infrastructure in Portland Crumbles Under 116-degree Heat

On Monday, for the third successive day, the high-temperature page of the record book of Portland needed to be rewritten.

All-time Record High Temperature

The city has been at the epicenter of a record-smashing heat wave that has been bringing temperatures increasing to previously unthinkable levels across the northwestern U.S. and western Canada. There have been stricken residents, among the victims abandoned in the wrath of the heat wave, buckled streets, and melted power cable.

Even at night, little ease has been offered, and on Tuesday morning Portland had record warmth by reducing to only 75 degrees F, which is close to 20 degrees above average. The streak of searing heat continued in Portland on Monday, bringing about a new all-time record high temperature in the course of this.

The highest mark of the day got to 116 degrees F, breaking the record - one-day-old - of 112 set Sunday. That had shattered the anything except the timeless record of 108 set Saturday. However, before that, the all-time high actually appear untouchable, as no day since August 1981 had touched the former record of 107 F.

The Hottest Months of the Year

For a city that normally witnesses average highs top out in the low 80s during the hottest months of the year, in July and August, the intensity of heat this June was never something most people in the city could have thought of.

The infrastructure and operations of the city were proof to that. Power cables supporting streetcars in the city were stretched to the maximum on Monday, melting in some regions.

Below 50 miles south of Portland, the city of Salem, Oregon, publicized the highest temperature of the day, reaching a new all-time high of 117 degrees. For reference, no day warmer than that has been recorded in Las Vegas.

On this kind of hot day, even cold conditions can become risky for those making plans to cool off in streams or rivers. Robert McDonald told AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell that the surprise from cold water, as low as 50 degrees, presented a danger to even a very experienced swimmer.

Effect of the Heat Wave

An operations manager with AMR, McDonald, told Wadell that he was pleased with the response of EMS in the region, which has aided in saving lives because over a dozen people were taken to the hospital with heat sicknesses Monday.

"This was a great turn for EMS in the area, but I have to tell you that I applaud most everyone that took part," he said. "I applaud our crews, they have done an amazing job in what can only be referred to as an austere event. It's hot and also not easy out there."

According to CNN, the Oregon Health Authority reported a sum of 506 visits that were related to the heat to emergency departments and exigent care centers over the past four days, and not less than 251 visits happened on Monday.

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