Heat wave to hit Northwest as Northeast sees some relief

By CLAIRE RUSH
Associated Press/Report for America

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Pacific Northwest is bracing for a major heat wave just as the Northeastern part of the U.S. will soon see a slight break in extreme temperatures.  In Washington state and Oregon temperatures are forecast to top 100 degrees Fahrenheit in some places this week as climate change fuels longer hot spells in a region where such events were historically uncommon. Local officials are on guard after last year’s “heat dome” weather phenomenon when about 800 people died across Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says much of the U.S. had above-average warmer temperatures in June.