The Pacific Northwest of the United States spreads in heat wave From Reuters

By Brendan O’Brien

(Reuters) – A historic heat wave has hit the Pacific Northwest of the United States where temperatures have risen in triple digits on Saturday as local officials have warned residents to take precautions as power companies have called for users to convert energy.

All of Washington and Oregon and parts of Idaho, Wyoming and California were under an excessive heat warning as temperatures were expected to rise by 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit above the average throughout the region during the weekend and next week, said the National Meteorological Service (NWS).

“This event will probably be one of the most extreme and prolonged heat waves in the recorded history of the Northwest,” the NWS said.

Across the region, dozens of high-temperature daily records are expected to be established, with monthly and even all-time records in danger of falling, the service said.

In Seattle, temperatures were expected to reach 98 Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) on Saturday and a record-breaking 106 all-time high. Officials told the city’s 725,000 residents to hydrate, keep locks on, use fans and go to a city cooling center if necessary.

“It’s unbearable outside. I went to do a commission at the post office and I ended up taking a Elevator (NASDAQ 🙂 at home. Even with sunscreen, shade and hydration, I almost fainted, ”said a Twitter user who calls herself“ Anne the Noble Land Waffle ”on her social media platform.

Officials in Multnomah County, Oregon, which covers the largest city in the state of Portland, have warned that highs above 100 degrees could cause delays in public transportation, disrupt emergency medical services and cause power outages. .

In a short video posted online, the county’s health agent, Dr. Jennifer Vines ordered residents to go to a cooling center if they don’t have air conditioning, warning that the area is hot. “life-threatening.”

Pacific Power, which serves 10 states, said in a statement that it did not anticipate service interruptions related to the heat, but asked customers to use less energy during the heat wave.

Portland General Electric (NYSE 🙂 told Oregon that it will have about 120 crews working Saturday and Sunday to respond to any interruptions.

“In times past comparable to what we should see, our system has worked as intended,” PGE spokesman John Farmer told the newspaper.

The NWS also warned that dry and brittle conditions could also lead to a high climatic concern of the fire until the beginning of next week.

The weather service was also expected to issue new red flag warnings in California and elsewhere to warn that brutal conditions increase the risk of fires.

Wildfires will burn more than 6,500 square miles (17,000 square miles) of land by 2020, destroying hundreds of California homes during a particularly fierce fire season.