Portland’s May heatwave continues to break daily and monthly records, and it isn’t over yet.
According to Tyler Kranz, a meteorologist at National Weather Service in Portland, the city is in the midst of a hot streak in the middle of a very warm May.
“When you consider May 1 to 17,” Kranz said, “we’re currently 6.2 degrees above normal for the month as a whole.”
So far, Portland has clocked the most consecutive May days 90 degrees or over, with four, breaking the record of three set in 1987.
Then, on Tuesday, Portland hit the most consecutive May days at 85 degrees or above, beating out 2009, 2008, 2006, 1992 and 1987, all of which had four. Wednesday also reached 85, meaning the current record for consecutive days 85 or above now stands at six. That record could fall today and then again tomorrow, both of which have forecasted highs around 85.
And, with it, another record will probably go down. Thursday, Portland will very likely tie the record for most consecutive May days at 80 or above, seven, which was set in the steamy spring of 1987. And Friday, there’s a high likelihood we will break that record too.
As for the daily record for May 18?
“The record’s on the cooler side,” Kranz said. “It’s only 86.”
Since today’s high is forecasted at 85, it is possible we will tie or beat that record, set in 1963, too.
“It’s going to come quite close,” Kranz said.
There are two bits of good news to consider, when it comes to the hot month. First, it hasn’t been both hot and dry. According to Kranz, thanks to a handful of rainy days, Portland is only .45 inches behind the average for precipitation at this point in the month.
And, a cool-down is coming.
“Saturday our forecasted high is 79 and we really cool down Sunday and Monday,” Kranz said, when the highs are expected to be close to 70.
However, it’s important to keep 70 in perspective.
“The average high this time of year is 70,” Kranz said, which means, “The cool-down is just going to normal.”
— Lizzy Acker
503-221-8052; lacker@oregonian.com; @lizzzyacker
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