The first weekend of summer is going to be a hot one in Oregon. Clear, sunny skies are forecast with highs in the mid-90s in the Willamette Valley.
David Bishop is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland.
“There is a chance that we could break into the triple-digits, but it’s highly doubtful.” Bishop says, “Saturday’s looking like it’s going to be the highest at 95 degrees for a forecasted high. But Sunday’s not far behind with a forecasted high of 94.”
Bishop says most of the state will experience the heat-wave. Coastal temperatures will be cooler with highs in the mid-70s, low 80s.
Bishop doesn’t expect any heat records will be broken. He says it’s not unusual for Oregon to hit the mid-90s this early in the summer. But, with July 4th around the corner, there is concern about fire danger.
There is a small wildfire (8,000 acres as of June 21st) currently burning northeast of Bend. Officials expect hot weather and steep terrain will challenge crews on the Rhoades Canyon Fire.