Remembering Portland's deadly heat wave of 2021

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Portland's no stranger to summer temperatures, but the heat dome that grew over the Pacific Northwest in June of 2021 quickly became deadly.

Triple-digit heat kept a tight grip on the greater Portland, Vancouver metro area from June 26 to June 28, 2021. That's when temperatures shot up to 108, 112, and finally the all-time record-breaking temperature of 116 degrees on June 28, 2021. Very little relief from the heat was felt during the overnight hours. Early morning lows only fell into the low to mid-70s before warming rapidly into the 100s. The excessive heat turned deadly. A total of 72 heat-related deaths were recorded in Multnomah County in 2021, all of which were caused by the heat dome in June.

The last two summers following the deadly heat wave of 2021 came with another round of 100-plus-degree heat. A total of five days at or above 100 degrees was felt in 2022 and four days in 2023. Portland has yet to hit 100 degrees in 2024, but most of the 100-degree days are felt in July and August.

"We're probably going to get one, maybe two days where we get above 100. I don't see the hot, hot stuff there [this year]," said Clinton Rocky with National Weather Service Portland.

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is forecasting the Pacific Northwest to have an equal opportunity to feel the heat and to feel some cool days. That could potentially give Portland a cooler summer than what's been recorded over the last few years.

"I think we're going to wind up with one of those pleasant summers that we often talk about to everyone back east that's complaining about the heat. And we all say that it's been a lovely summer out in the Northwest," said Rocky.

The potential to see a short stent of summer heat has already been apparent with several days already making it into the 90s so far this year. The likelihood of seeing Portland's deadly temperatures climb to 116 degrees again this year is lower than over the last few summers.