Photo by Frederic J. Brown ( Getty ImagesAccuWeather reports that record-breaking temperatures are scorching America's West Coast and parts Canada in the midst of a historic heat wave.AdvertisementThe NWS has issued heat alerts to more than 20 million residents in six states. On Saturday, dozens of records were broken in states from Washington to California. Further north, the heat wave in Canada set a new national record on Sunday. Lyton, a village located in British Columbia, reached approximately 115°F (46.1° Celsius), surpassing the previous all-time high of the country's 113°F (45 degrees Celsius) in 1937, according Environment and Climate Change Canada.According to the NWS, temperatures are expected to rise further on Sunday and Monday in some areas. There is no relief this week for the Cascades, east of the Cascades and eastern Oregon, Washington State and much of Idaho and western Montana.It said that record-breaking heat in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Great Basins on Saturday led to even higher temperatures today and Monday. High temperatures will soar between 20-30+ degrees above the average in Washington, Oregon, and areas that are densely populated west of Cascade Mountains. Heat-related illnesses will be more likely to occur if temperatures rise well above the triple digits.The heat dome is basically the Pacific Northwest's way of frying. It forms when the high-pressure circulation in air creates a kind of lid that prevents hot air from escaping. According to Jeff Berardelli, CBS meteorologist, a heat dome of this intensity is rare and something you might only experience once in 1,000 years. Scott Duncan, another meteorologist, predicts that the Pacific Northwest will be one of the most hot places on Earth this year.According to the NWS, Saturday was Portland's hottest day ever recorded. Temperatures reached 108°F (42.2° Celsius). The record didn't last very long. On Sunday, temperatures reached a new high at 112 degrees Fahrenheit (44.4 Celsius). The city previously set a record for temperature at 107 degrees Fahrenheit (41.7 Celsius) in 1965 and 1981.The NWS reported that Saturday's temperatures reached 105°F (40.6° Celsius) in Salem (Oregon) and Vancouver (Washington), each city's maximum monthly temperature records for June. Seattle, Washington reached 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.1 degrees Celsius) on the same day, which is a record for June. According to the NWS, Salem Airport reached 112 degrees Fahrenheit (44.4° Celsius) on Sunday. This surpasses the previous record of 109 degrees Fahrenheit (42.8° Celsius).AdvertisementAccording to the CBC, temperatures in Canada will reach their highest point on Monday. They could soar as high as 113 Fahrenheit (45 Celsius) in British Columbia. Fraser Valley reached 104°F (40°C) on Saturday. This was the highest temperature recorded to date. Residents north of Vancouver were ordered to evacuate because of rising river levels due to snowmelt.The NWS reported that even the area's average high temperatures will be exceeded by the Pacific Northwest's morning lows. This just goes to prove the unusual nature of this historic heatwave. According to the agency, the last time this region experienced heat was July 2009. Temperatures hovered between 101 and 106 degrees Fahrenheit for two to four days. The hottest time of the year is usually in July so it's not surprising that we are seeing records fall at a time when summers have barely begun.AdvertisementThe NWS recommends that anyone living in extreme heat areas should stay hydrated and stay indoors as much as possible. They also advise against prolonged sun exposure. In recent weeks, the West Coast has been hit hard by record temperatures, which have dried up water supplies and hampered hydropower. This has also contributed to the growing drought conditions in the region.This heat wave is only the beginning, however disastrous it may have been. This weekend's record will likely not last long as thousands of temperature records were broken this year. Experts predict that the climate crisis will increase the likelihood of megadroughts and heat in the future.AdvertisementUpdated at 8:37 PM on 6/27/2021: Updated with the most recent record-breaking stats from Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
