Medford could break several heat records this week

Kevin Opsahl, Mail Tribune, Medford, Ore.
·2 min read

Jul. 27—A slew of hot-weather records are in danger of melting away this week in Medford.

On Monday, the city tied the mark for the hottest July 25 on record, hitting 107 degrees.

On Tuesday, the city came close to the all-time record for that date of 108 degrees, hitting 106 degrees at 4:37 p.m.

And it's not just Medford. The heat wave spurred Gov. Kate Brown Tuesday to declare a state of emergency for 25 Oregon counties through July 31.

This stretch of mercury-popping days goes beyond mere one-day totals. Also at risk are records for consecutive days hotter than 105 degrees, and a record for the most consecutive days above 100.

"One hundred degrees is pretty typical in Medford. What's not typical is the consecutiveness of the days," said National Weather Service meteorologist Charles Smith.

The record for consecutive days hotter than 105 is six in a row, posted back in 1981. Medford is almost certain to break that one, with eight days above 105 if the forecast stays true, Smith said.

The tougher record will be matching 10 consecutive days over 100 degrees, a record posted in 1967 and matched in 2021. The forecast Tuesday called for eight straight triple-digit scorchers.

What causes such a relentless heat event?

"When a strong area of high pressure builds during the summer and doesn't move, usually that's the cause, if there's multiple days," he said. "When that happens, it gets hot. The stronger it is, the warmer it gets."

Smith listed the week's high temperature records and the predicted highs each day:

For July 28, the record is 108 degrees (set in 2009), and the temperature is expected to be 109.

For July 29, the record is 109 degrees (set in 2009), and the temperature is expected to be 106.

The July 30 record is 108 degrees (set in 2018), and the temperature is expected to be 105.

The July 31 heat record is 109 degrees (set in 2015), and the temperature is expected to be 99.

The last day of the month is indeed expected to be cooler than the preceding week — with "some cooler ocean air."

Reach reporter Kevin Opsahl at 541-776-4476 or kopsahl@rosebudmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KevJourno.