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Multnomah County has declared a state of emergency and opened one of its dedicated cooling centers amid scorching temperatures Tuesday.
Temperatures in the Portland area could reach a high near 99 degrees Fahrenheit, with some patchy smoke, according to the National Weather Service. That’s also contributing to a dip in air quality.
The state of emergency will last until 10 p.m.
Portlanders looking to cool down can visit the Bud Clark Commons, at 650 NW Irving St., from noon to 9 p.m. The center will provide snacks and water.
Libraries are also open until 8 p.m., and other cooling spaces like community centers and fountains are available.
Outreach teams are working to provide relief to people experiencing homelessness. On Monday, the county provided teams with 5,280 bottles of water, 220 reusable bottles, 440 cooling towels, 550 electrolyte packets and 550 sunscreen packets to distribute.
The county issued a wood-burning ban until conditions improve, saying high heat causes smog to worsen.
The county has not yet announced plans for Wednesday, when temperatures could be even hotter with a high near 100 that could feel like 104 degrees because of humidity.
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