Editorial: Roses and raspberries (July 4) gazettetimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from gazettetimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Scientists responded to long-range weather forecasts with disbelief roughly a week ago, said Larry OâNeill, Oregon state climatologist.
âThe initial reaction, because weâve never seen it get that hot here, is that the models were really wrong,â he said.
But the predictions didnât change. And then they became a scorching reality.
The Corvallis and Albany areas recorded their highest temperature ever when the thermostat reached 110 degrees on Sunday as part of an unprecedented heat wave hitting the Pacific Northwest, OâNeill said.
âWe shattered records statewide by a large margin. Iâve never seen it happen where so many records fell by so much,â he added.
Mid-Willamette Valley communities are establishing cooling centers to help residents escape from extreme heat this weekend, with some facilities prioritizing services for senior citizens, who can be more at risk