East Portland residents make the best of late-summer sweltering temperatures

Meteorologists say the 103º+ temperatures are coming late in the season. See when the heat wave is expected to break – and where you can cool off …

Portland Parks & Recreation set up portable “water slides” like this one we saw at Brooklyn Park, to help folks beat the summer heat.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A question bantered around this week is, “Hot enough for ya?”

To get the official word about the weather, we speak with meteorologist Tiffani Brown at the National Weather Center on NE 122nd Ave. She blames the blazing hot temperatures on a stagnant weather pattern.

“There are thermal troughs sitting over the Willamette Valley. This, with many hours of sunshine, keeps it hot – there is no marine layer coming in to cool us down.”

Brown says we’ve set quite a few records in the last couple of days. “We’ll probably set another high temperature record today,” Brown says.

At the East Portland News Weather Center, it looks as if yet another high temperature record will be set as we prepare this story.

Hot weekend ahead
“It will be sunny and hot on Saturday, August 16,” Brown forecasts. “The temperature could again hit 103º. On Sunday, there is a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am, but the high will be near 92º.”

We can expect cooler temperatures during the coming week, Brown adds.

Were to cool off
What does one do to beat the sizzling, sweltering heat wave that’s settled over Portland?

In addition to seeking out air conditioned public spaces, many East Portlanders are turning to activities set up by Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) at both permanent and temporary locations.

PP&R pools fill to capacity quickly! If you desire a dip, community center managers suggest you arrive early.

“We’re encouraging Portlanders to find relief from 100+ degree temperatures today and tomorrow by taking refuge in their city’s parks and pools,” suggests the bureau’s spokesperson, Beth Sorensen.

“From a shady walk in a park, to a picnic dinner under the trees in a neighborhood park, to a dip in a community pool, PP&R offers many free or inexpensive opportunities to escape from the heat,” Sorensen adds.

One of the pools we visit, the Mt. Scott Community Center, hosts nearly 1,000 adults and kids every day who want to cool off. “During our all-swim times, we’ve been at capacity,” says Phil Lewis, Aquatic Coordinator at PP&R.

Supervised water-play facilities:

Creston Pool – Outdoor; SE 44th Avenue & Powell Blvd.
Montavilla Pool – Outdoor; 8219 NE Glisan Street
Mt. Scott Pool – Indoor; 5530 SE 72nd Avenue
Sellwood Pool – Outdoor; 7951 SE 7th Avenue
Montavilla Wading Pool – at 8219 NE Glisan St. is open Saturday, August 16: open 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Mt. Scott Wading Pool – at 5530 SE 72nd Avenue is open Saturday, August 16 & Sunday, August 17: open 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Also, you can find user-operated “water features” in which to play at Earl Boyles Park, SE 112th Ave & Boise St. and Raymond Park, SE 118th Ave & Raymond St.

Wading pools look inviting to both kids and adults when temperatures soar.

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