How are we all enjoying the Great Oregon Heat Wave of 2009?

[ColinM]

I live in Phoenix, AZ. July was the hottest on record. Many, many days of 110F plus. Several 115 or more. I know there is low humidity, but when it gets that hot it's plain roasting! August is forecast to be above normal, you know around 106-108F usually.
We are considering a move to the Portland metro area somewhere. Beaverton sounds promising. It'll be a shock for us I guess. From over 300 days of pure blue skies and sun, sun, sun, to half the year in grey light. However, we used to live in Birmingham, England, 7 years ago. I think the weather there has gotten wetter than it was. Maybe closer to Portland these days? The summer months though in Portland are better than England. They are not as hot as Phoenix and the winters are slightly milder than B'ham England.
The summers are hell in Phoenix and miserable in B'ham, England. In Phoenix, you can't walk out of your house for 4 months of the summer during the day without dying of dehydration and sunstroke / sunburn after a 100 yards (if you're fit!). Spring and Fall don't really exist since the temps are still in the 80's-90's and winter is a brief 3-4 months of rare 50's, mostly 60's, 70's and some 80's.
Living in the Portland area will give us the rare pleasure of being able to walk out of our house almost every day of the year, barring a snow blizzard in winter!
Even in a heat wave we'll be better off. We'll know that it's just a heat wave and not the seasonal norm!

[Minervah]

It's almost over according to the weather people. I for one will be very happy to see the cooler weather. The sun can take a rest too as far as I am concerned.

[lilypad]

Yes, I think cooler weather is on the way! It has been very hot here, the bank building showed 111 last week!! Thought I left Texas weather behind!!!

[Steve97415]

Interestingly, the normally hot Sacramento Valley has had quite pleasant weather this whole time -- highs in the mid-80's to mid-90's with lows in the upper 50's to low 60's. Warm, sure, but well within seasonal expectations. It isn't until you get almost to the Oregon border that you run into the trough that has caused this heat wave.

[Oregonbeachlover]

I stopped for gas in Redding on our road trip week before last and I thought I would die. I got out of my car and forgot that it is HOT there. Yikes! I'll take my Oregon coastal climate any day, thank you. And....even though we had awful heat in the valley, it didn't last.

P.S. After just seeing many other states, I still maintain that Oregon is the most BEAUTIFUL!! Appreciate what you have, everyone!! Oregon is special.

[JDR2]

Welcome to what we in Texas have been going through since June 1st.

[Oregonbeachlover]

I just spent a couple of days in Dallas, TX and it wasn't overwhelmingly hot, but the humidity is what zapped me. To make up for it, we ate at a restaurant called "Life's a Beach", which happens to be my life's motto. They even had brought in tons of sand (some people were playing beach volleyball), so that when you looked out the window, you forgot you were in Dallas, TX.

[lilypad]

Originally Posted by JDR2

Welcome to what we in Texas have been going through since June 1st.

Spent the last 10 years in Texas, enduring the terrible heat. I do love my home state, but sure is unbearably hot about 5 months out of the year!

[CalculusE.]

Originally Posted by juggler

The "no air conditioning" is a thing of the past for the majority of people around here. I read yesterday that 72% of PGE's customers have A/C now. That's why we keep setting electricity use records every day.

Eh, maybe in PDX area its that high. Still blows my mind when looking at housing, especially newer homes that have marble tile bathrooms, granite kitchens etc. and they want 250k+ for a 1800sqft or higher house but no A/C.

The heat wave this year has convinced me I need to move and find a decent house with AC to rent.

[sarahkate_m]

It seems to me, in Eugene, that there were fewer hot days, less sunshine than my previous 4 summers here. I feel cheated out of the sun I waited all year for!