MaxRedline

Still Hot

State officials implored the public to avoid unnecessary emergency rooms trips as the system strained to accommodate more than 500 people sickened by this week's infernal conditions.

The Oregon Health Authority reported 506 heat related emergency room and urgent care admissions since June 25 in the Portland metro region. Nearly half of the visits were reported Monday, June 28 — when a record-shattering 116-degree temperature required 251 to seek medical care.

This should come as no surprise; Portland isn't known for an abundance of common sense.

 

 

The Heat's Been On

Portland set record-high temperatures three days in a row, topping out at 116 degrees on Monday. Seattle hit 108 degrees, a new record.

Fortunately for me and the dog, I have whole-house air conditioning.

The energy bill may be interesting, but at least we stayed comfortable.

 

What A Guy!

A Bonney Lake man drove through the night to Redding, California, to bring back A/C units for his neighbors in need.

Jason Smith made a summer road trip of over 1,300 miles in less than 24 hours this week to provide relief for his family and neighbors in need.

Smith said he discovered his local big box stores were wiped out of A/C units and after researching and making some calls, the closest option with a supply of portable A/Cs was in Redding, California.

 

 

Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Utility workers and wildlife managers across the Pacific Northwest were trying to keep people and animals safe Saturday as a historic heat wave scorched the region, toppling records and sending residents searching for relief.

Stores sold out of portable air conditioners and fans, hospitals canceled outdoor vaccination clinics, cities opened cooling centers, baseball teams canceled or moved up weekend games, and utilities braced for possible power outages.

Seems like another PNW summer.

 

Works For Many

Oregon grocers are ready for another round of attempting to persuade the public to let them sell hard liquor on grocery shelves.

They've been doing that for years in the Midwest.

 

 

Viva Las Vegas

Researchers predict this week’s heatwave to be the first of several to hit the US south-west before the summer ends. Driven by the climate crisis and intensified by the city’s expansive growth, Vegas is already cooking – and it is going to get worse.

At least their casinos and hotels have air conditioning, as do I - mine came on around 7:00 A.M. and has run more or less continually throughout the day and evening, PGE's gong to love it. On the other hand, as there's no need to fire up the grill or stove - just set your plates on the window-sill and let the sun do the cooking, I'm saving a bit of cash there.

It works pretty well, and helps keep the indoor temps down.

 

There's A Drought Going On.

As of June 21, there is at least some level of drought in at least one county in 42 of 50 US states. However, exceptional drought is only seen in ten states -- North Dakota, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and California.

It does seem to have been uncommonly warm and dry here, of late.

 

Inattention Can Cost You.

A panicked woman raced her pooch to the vet fearing he had a lump on his stomach - but it turned out to just be his nipples. The expensive mistake - which cost £145 ($200) was shared on TikTok, where it left people in stitches.

Ignorant people and animals is generally a bad combination.

 

Moving On Up

Retail workers across the US are abandoning low-paying jobs at stores and restaurants for new opportunities.

Look for more robots to fill these slots.

 

Nope. This is why I don't have "smart thermostats"

Power companies in Texas are remotely raising temperatures inside of some customers’ homes amid the state’s ongoing energy shortage.

If it's all the same, I'll make my own decisions.