Tuesday, July 21, 2026 — Portland woke up to warm, hazy air and is on track to roast in the upper 90s this afternoon, with heat index readings near 101°F and patchy wildfire smoke expected after mid-morning. Overnight lows are only forecast to slip into the upper 60s, which means many neighborhoods in the urban core will not cool off much. If you have to be outside, try to push heavy outdoor work or workouts into the early morning or after sunset, and check on neighbors who do not have air conditioning.
Afternoon Heat And Smoke
The National Weather Service has a Heat Advisory in place from 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 21 through 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, with inland valleys expected to reach the mid to upper 90s and light north-northwest winds. Patchy smoke is expected to develop after mid-morning and may dent air quality in parts of the metro area, according to NWS Portland.
Cooling Centers And Safety
Multnomah County notes that Heat Advisories trigger stepped-up outreach and can lead to the opening of cooling centers, extended library hours and other cool-down options. Call 2-1-1 or check county listings for current locations. Libraries, pools and community centers are common spots for relief during short hot spells, and some sites may provide water and rest areas. For details on guidance and activation criteria, see Multnomah County.
Wednesday And The Week Ahead
Wednesday is poised to run even hotter, with a high near 100°F and localized heat index values up to 104°F in inland pockets. There is a slight chance of late-day showers or an isolated storm near the Cascades before onshore flow strengthens Thursday, which should knock highs back into the upper 80s by late week. You can find the latest forecast discussions and hazard updates from NWS Portland.
Stay on top of water, shade and a plan for the hottest hours, and avoid leaving children or pets in parked vehicles under any circumstances. Try to pause strenuous outdoor work between about 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. If smoke thickens up, cut back on time outside or use an N95 mask for longer exposure. This story has been updated with today’s peak-heat details, and you can check our earlier report on the advisory for background.
