It's fall: Near-record summer heat heads to Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Summer heat returns to the Pacific Northwest even as autumn is officially underway.

Afternoon highs are expected to skyrocket to near record-breaking conditions in Portland Tuesday. This heat comes as Portland's first average frost approaches in late October. The nearly 55-degree temperature difference between the two extremes comes as autumn gets underway in the Pacific Northwest.

Portland is no stranger to high heat in the month of September. Records show that 90-degree heat is possible even in the month of October in Portland. Portland's latest 90-degree temperature recorded was on October 5,1980, which is the record for that date.

The record-setting late heat of 1980 nearly overlaps the 1985 record for earliest first freeze. Freezing temperatures where recorded in Portland on October 8, 1985. The earliest first frost was felt several weeks earlier in 1965 when temperatures fell into the mid 30s on September 17.

Needless to say, September and October can bring big temperature swings to the Pacific Northwest. This comes as Pacific storms usually help usher in both ridges and troughs of sun and rain to the Pacific Northwest.