Survived the record shattering heat wave

[sonia]

Portland OR just went through three days of record shattering high temperatures: 108F, 112F, 116F.

The weather forecast predicted this heat dome pretty accurately, although the numbers kept getting higher over the preceding week. The eye-popping high temperatures on the forecast reminded me of the miserable experience when the high got to 106 in 2009.

This color-coded chart of high temps since 1938 shows that it was a similar three-day run of above 100 degrees, although it was late July rather than late June, and "only" 102, 102, 106. By the third day I was sweltering. I didn't have any strategies to manage the heat in the house, and I don't remember coming down to the basement. I think I had a desktop computer then, so it was harder to just move operations downstairs.

This time, I prepared. All the cute small windows that didn't have window coverings got tension curtain rods and makeshift curtains. The larger windows with light-filtering shades got an extra layer of an old flannel massage sheet hung over them.

When I went to the hardware store for tension curtain rods, they also had fans that can be put in double-hung windows, so I got two of those. I had two already, but they're 15 years old and their plastic is visibly degraded. Luckily I had biked over with the trailer, not just a pannier, so I could carry the fans home.

Inconveniently, I'm just in the process of replacing a bunch of shades, so for some windows I just had the loose shade, without the wooden roller which is at the shop being reused for a new shade. I managed to rig those up with an extra layer of fabric as well.

I ran the laundry and the dishwasher and cooked food ahead. I opened and closed windows and shades to try to maximize cooling air at night even before the main heat wave.

During the heat wave I spent a lot of time in the basement and drank a lot of water and slept in the living room rather than upstairs, which is right under the roof and stayed unmanageably hot. The living room thermostat got to 94 today, so I'm glad I had an escape from that. As I wait for the temperature outside to drop below that (101 currently, 7:45pm) so I can open all the windows, I'm relieved that cooler air is coming in from the coast.

I'm short on sleep from getting up at 4:30 to open windows and not going back to sleep right away. I haven't gotten as much writing done as I wanted, but I made it through without undue misery. I'm worried about next times. I'm worried about eventually needing to get air conditioning, and all the other people who will make that decision, which only accelerates the problem.

I saw these tips for heat waves via lilysea after I had done most of my prep.

I'm appreciating that being older means I have past experience to draw on, even if those past mistakes felt terrible at the time. I remember the helpless feeling in 2009, compared with looking around the house this time, measuring windows, and heading for the hardware store with very little hesitation. I'm appreciating having a cool basement to shelter in. I'm appreciating having the resources to get through.

PS: The heat dome is caused by a wavy jet stream which is caused by climate change, as explained by Anthony Edwards, edwardsanthonyb.

Comments

[minoanmiss]

*sends you cool breezes*

[sonia]

Thank you! I hope it cools down where you are, too.

[silveradept]

I am glad the heat is slowly starting to move on and be in lower temperatures, but that was a miserable experience to go through, even with preparation and climate assistance.

[sonia]

Sorry to hear it was miserable! For me, I think the needle has moved on miserable. This was difficult, but not as miserable as a week of smoke from fires or losing power in an ice storm. I'm hoping not to keep gathering experiences to compare with those! (But I don't think that's the way to bet.)