How is everyone handling the heat? (Portland, Medford: motorhomes, living, gardening)

[Nameless]

I just looked up the weather in Bend out of curiosity as my sister used to live there and was shocked to see it 97 degrees right now. It appears as though this is the 2nd heatwave of the year around there. Is that common to have that much hot weather in the summer there? We only visited in May and at Christmas time. I suppose with a low of 46 this morning and absent humidity you could handle it in Bend but what about you guys over in the valley? Considering there is never humidity in Bend and the high over the course of the year looks to be near 100 I could handle that no problem compared to what I put up with.

[haggardhouseelf]

Bend is on the very eastern edge of the Cascade mountains right at the beginnings of the high desert - hot & dry summers are normal there.

El Niño is creating a lot of hotter, dryer weather for the coast and the Willamette Valley this year. I'm from Texas, and there have been a few days this summer so far where it's been cooler in my hometown in Texas than it has been in the Willamette Valley here in Oregon. That is unusual. But the difference is how things cool off at night! And the difference in humidity...

Another difference is that many Oregonians do not have air conditioning. I'm not really sure what the deal is... but when we moved here in 2003, we were told by several property management companies and realtors that "You don't need it here." We believed them at first, but by our second summer here we had purchased and installed air conditioning units.

Many Oregonians, though, still live without air conditioning, so during the hot summer months they "sweat it out" or head for the coast, swimming holes, rivers, lakes, or pools. The newer homes and communities being built almost always have air conditioning. I can't imagine living without it - but then again, I'm from Texas! Not having air conditioning is crazy-talk where I'm from.

[ksucher]

After 2 days of 106, 90's are nothing and I hope they are gone until next year.

I have lived in Portland for 13 years and it has been getting more and more hot days in summer since I first moved here.

[JimH2]

Are more folks thinking of getting A/C in their homes after the last few summers of summer heat ? I assume one would really only need A/C to any extent in the months of July and August (for added comfort during the daytime hours).

[Metlakatla]

I have AC upstairs; it would be sweltering without it. Also -- people used to be a lot more comfortable leaving doors and windows open than they are now.

[pdxmilw]

I don't think it's been above 100 in portland for three summers now, which isn't to say we haven't had hot days. I wouldn't mind AC, but I'm cheap, and the wiring in my new (to me) apt probably couldn't take it. But AC is definitely more common now than when i was a kid in Portland in the 70s-80s- I don't think I knew anyone who had it. Both my parents and sister have central AC in Portland.

[PNW-type-gal]

We're on track to have the hottest July on record in the Medford area - we haven't hit any record highs, but the average temp and the average daily high are the hottest ever. The real downside is the the low temp at night, usually in the low 60s, has been staying in the low 70s, meaning that I don't get the chance to really cool the house down by opening it up in the morning. It was 60 when I got up this morning at 5:30 and that felt like such a relief.

I do have A/C and I spent some money getting the house's insulation updated, which turns out to have been money well spent.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

I'm getting tired of the hot afternoons, starting about 3pm.
That seems to be the hottest part of the day.
The rest of the day is wonderful.

If it stayed in the low to mid eighties (with a slight breezy west wind), it would be absolutely perfect.

[Hawk J]

We go skinny-dipping in the basspond...

I never have put A/C in my home, but the motorhomes have it.

[mamh]

So happy we put central air when we bought our house back in 3 and have since added ceiling fans and a free standing fan in the living room..Will be glad when it cools down so I can spend more time gardening..
For the most part we are doing just fine.