For the third time ever, September temperatures in Portland have officially reached 100 degrees. According to meteorologist Kelley Bayern, a September 100 degree day is quite uncommon for the Portland region.
“Triple-digit heat in September is very rare, and prior to today, Portland had only had that happen twice in recorded history,” Bayern stated. “This is going back to data through 1938.”
Portland International Airport recorded 100 degrees on Thursday at 2:53 p.m., according to data from the National Weather Service. By 5 p.m. on Thursday, the temperature had risen to 102 degrees as the day went on.
September 5, 1944, had the earliest known 100-degree September day in Portland history, with a high temperature of 101 degrees.
During the last year of World War II, on this day in 1944, Bing Crosby’s “Swinging on a Star” was the most played jukebox record, movies were in black and white, and American troops were pushing into Belgium.
September 2, 1988, was the last time Portland saw 100 degrees, with a daily high of 105.
At the time, Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” was topping the charts, George H. W. Bush, the Republican nominee for president, was facing Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis, and the top films at the box office were “Die Hard,” “A Fish Called Wanda,” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.”
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Because there is still a high chance of wildfire this month, the Oregon Department of Forestry is advising the public to exercise caution. Up to 11 p.m. on Friday, there is a red flag warning in force for the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascades.
