HOT, HOT, HOT! Temperatures to soar to near triple digits on Thursday and Friday

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — A late-season heat wave could bring record temperatures to the Willamette Valley later this week.

Late-season heat waves are rare in September, but not unheard of, according to Storm Tracker 2 meteorologist Rhonda Shelby. “Valley cities could experience record-breaking heat on Thursday and Friday that would surpass longstanding daily records.”

The National Weather Service in Portland has issued an extreme heat warning for the Willamette Valley, the Columbia River Gorge, southwestern Washington and the lower Columbia River for Thursday and Friday.

“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check on family members and neighbors. Do not leave young children and pets unattended in vehicles. Car interiors can reach lethal temperatures within minutes,” the agency said in the alert issued Tuesday.

A heat warning has been issued for the Oregon Coast Range, the southwestern Washington Cascade Foothills and the Hood River Valley.

According to the Storm Tracker 2 forecast, it will be 38 degrees on Thursday and 37 degrees on Friday.

Daily record high temperatures Wednesday through Saturday at Portland Airport:

• 9/4 – 98 in 1955
• 9/5 – 101 in 1944
• 9/6 – 97 in 1958
• 9/7 – in 1981

Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington County have places where residents can go to stay cool during the heat. An interactive map of locations is available here.