Salem could break heat record next two days as high grass pollen makes allergies awful
Zach UrnessBreak out the sunscreen and inflate the kiddie pools.
Oregon’s hot weather is about to arrive in full force.
Temperatures across the Willamette Valley will eclipse 90 degrees for the first time this season on Wednesday and Thursday and make a run at setting records.
The forecasted high in Salem is currently 94 degrees both days. That would mean Tuesday’s record of 98 degrees (set in 1940) and Wednesday’s record of 93 (set in 2002) will both be in play.
“We just have an usually warm scenario where we have a lot of hot air coming in from the south, combined with air coming down the Cascades that will heat up as it drops into lower elevations,” National Weather Service meteorologist Jon Bonk said.
The trend appears likely to stay for a while, too.
The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting above-normal chances for hot and dry weather in the 8 to 14 day window and the 3 to 4 week window.
In other words, the heat of summer has arrived, no matter what the calendar says.
Dangerous conditions at local swimming holes
The hot weather brings up many concerns, but one of the most acute is people swimming in rivers and creeks still cold from snowmelt.
“When you have temperatures this hot this early, what happens is people jump in rivers and creeks that are probably still around 50 degrees. The drop from 90 degrees air temperature to 50 degrees in the water causes a physical response — sometimes shock or a big intake of water or air, and that can be dangerous,” Bonk said.
Many rivers and creeks are also running higher than normal, making it easier for small children to get swept away. Early June can be a deadly time at popular swimming holes, especially on streams that drain the Cascade Mountains such as the Little North Santiam or Clackamas.
Grass pollen making allergies rough
Anyone with allergies to grass pollen has likely noticed the past couple of days.
Grass pollen levels are listed at “very high” by Oregon Allergy Associates’ pollen count in the south and central Willamette Valley.
Wildfire danger?
Wildfire danger remains fairly low statewide, but the extended hot and dry temperatures could hasten the arrival of wildfire seasons.
While most of Oregon got normal or above normal precipitation this year — and close to normal snowpack — an extended period of hot weather could dry out fast-growing vegetation that set the stage for prime fire conditions by July and August.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter, photographer and videographer in Oregon for 11 years. To support his work, subscribe to the Statesman Journal. Urness is the author of “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.