Excessive Heat — Lower Columbia Basin, Washington

2021-06-26 to 2021-06-30 · Lower Columbia Basin, Washington

Event narrative

Calculated heat risk at the KRLD AWOS recorded consecutive days between June 26th through June 30th of temperatures that met or exceeded excessive heat warning criteria. The GHCN station for Kennewick, WA recorded consecutive days between June 27th through July 1st of temperatures that met or exceeded excessive heat warning criteria. The KRLD AWOS and the KPSC ASOS recorded consecutive daily high temperatures over 110 degrees, with KRLD measuring 118 degrees on June 29th. Several fatalities across Benton and Franklin counties were attributed to the heat wave during this period.

Wider weather episode

A strong upper level ridge of high pressure and a surface thermal trough brought several days of record high temperatures across the PacNW, with many locations in the lower and higher elevations experiencing extreme heat risk during this event. The multiple days of extreme heat risk has been attributed to several fatalities across the region.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 969166. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.