PORTLAND, Ore. — For the first time in history, the National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for the Portland-Vancouver metro area, set to begin Tuesday afternoon, July 15, and continue into Wednesday, July 16.
This new alert comes as part of a recent overhaul in how the NWS communicates dangerous heat. The changes, implemented in March 2025, introduced two new designations: Extreme Heat Watch and Extreme Heat Warning. Tuesday’s watch is the first of its kind in the region.
What an Extreme Heat Watch means
The NWS defines an Extreme Heat Watch as an early heads-up for potentially dangerous heat conditions, even if the exact timing or intensity is still uncertain. Forecasters warn that if a warning is later issued, residents should be ready to suspend outdoor plans, avoid prolonged exposure to the heat, and seek out air-conditioned spaces, especially overnight.
If conditions worsen, a watch can quickly escalate into an Extreme Heat Warning, which signals that extremely hazardous temperatures are either imminent or already occurring. Warnings call for immediate action to avoid heat-related illness or worse.
Highs near 100°F expected next week
Current forecasts call for temperatures ranging from 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (35°C to 40.5°C) across the Greater Portland area starting Tuesday. And the heat won’t let up after sunset — overnight lows are expected to remain in the upper 60s to low 70s (18°C to 22°C), offering little relief.
This rare combination of intense daytime heat and warm overnight temperatures is exactly what triggered the watch, especially for communities throughout the northern Willamette Valley, where cooling off at night will be difficult without access to air conditioning.
Portland’s extreme heat history
While the terminology may be new, Portland’s vulnerability to extreme heat isn’t. Many still remember the record-shattering heatwave in June 2021, when temperatures reached a stunning 116°F (46.7°C) — the city’s hottest day ever recorded.
This latest alert underscores a shift in how the National Weather Service prepares the public for what experts say could become more frequent and more intense heat events in the years ahead.
