US heat wave smothers Pacific Northwest, poses extreme risk in California and Arizona [View all]

Source: AP

By CEDAR ATTANASIO
Updated 6:24 PM CDT, August 23, 2025

SEATTLE (AP) — Residents of the Western U.S. sweltered in a heat wave Saturday that hospitalized some people, with temperatures forecast to hit dangerous levels throughout the weekend in Washington, Oregon, Southern California, Nevada and Arizona.

About 1.2 million people were under extreme heat risk, meaning temperatures were expected to stay dangerously high with no relief overnight. The largest area under the warning was around Tucson, Arizona, where the National Weather Service forecast highs between 102 and 107 degrees Fahrenheit (39 and 42 degrees Celsius). Areas of inland Southern California also faced extreme risk.

Another 18.6 million were under major heat risk nationwide, affecting workers and anyone without regular cooling and hydration, including in Miami.

Portland, Oregon, reported a record high for Aug. 22, according to preliminary data: 102 degrees (38.9 Celsius). If upheld it would break the 98-degree (36.7-degree Celsius) high for the date, set in 1942, according to the NWS.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/pacific-northwest-heat-wave-portland-oregon-arizona-e8f8af40dfd062a46dc0487bfbe02308