Deadly Heat Dome Spurs AC Demand in Pacific Northwest

The record-setting heat that descended on the Pacific Northwest region of the United States in late June sent temperatures soaring to 108ºF (about 42ºC) in Seattle, Washington and 115ºF (about 46ºC) in Portland, Oregon, the hottest temperatures ever recorded in the cities since recordkeeping began. The extreme heat even caused highways to buckle and power cables to melt, among other damage. Now at least 200 deaths in Oregon and Washington states, and possibly as many as 600 deaths, are being attributed to the extreme heat event. Additionally, the extreme temperatures in British Columbia, Canada are thought to have caused as many as 500 deaths.