The deadly, record-breaking heat wave that hit the Pacific Northwest in June 2021 continues to be the subject of intense interest among scientists, policymakers and the public. Subscribe to our ...

However, as the climate warms, temperatures seen during the 2021 heat wave – 108, 112 and 116 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of three days in Portland – will become more frequent.

In June 2021, a deadly heat wave pushed temperatures to 109°F (43°C) in Spokane, Washington, a northern city near the Idaho border where many homes weren't built with central air conditioning.