Update July 29, 12:15 pm:

The county will keep four cooling shelters open to the public through Sunday morning, as the region's sweltering temperatures enter a holding pattern over the weekend. The National Weather Service has placed Portland under an excessive heat warning until Sunday evening, with highs reaching just under 100 degrees each day. 

The county has reported at least three deaths linked to the heatwave, and continues to see a surge in 911 calls related to the heat emergency.

Overnight shelters operating for 24-hours per day through Sunday morning:

Charles Jordan Community Center: 9009 N. Foss Ave.
East Portland Community Center: 740 S.E. 106th Ave.
Portland Building: 1120 S.W. 5th Ave.
Sunrise Center: 18901 E. Burnside


Daytime cooling center open Friday 10 am to 10 pm:

Old Town: 435 N.W. Glisan St.

The most up to date cooling center information can be found on the county's website.

Update July 28, 12:03 pm:

Cooling shelters will remain open through at least Saturday morning as the National Weather Service predicts excessive heat in Portland until Saturday evening and possibly into Sunday. Friday and Saturday are expected to reach 100 degrees with relatively high temperatures at night. 

Approximately 170 people stayed at the overnight cooling shelters on Wednesday, according to Multnomah County officials. Since the beginning of the heatwave, 22 people have been treated for heat illness and the county medical examiner identified at least one suspected heatwave death on Wednesday.

Overnight shelters operating for 24-hours per day through Saturday morning:

  • Charles Jordan Community Center: 9009 N. Foss Ave.
  • East Portland Community Center: 740 S.E. 106th Ave.
  • Portland Building: 1120 S.W. 5th Ave.
  • Sunrise Center: 18901 E. Burnside

Daytime cooling center open Thursday and Friday 10 am to 10 pm:

  • Old Town: 435 N.W. Glisan St.

The most up to date cooling center information can be found on the county's website.

 

Update July 27, 11:22 am:

Cooling shelters in Portland will remain open through at least Friday morning as excessive heat conditions are forecast to worsen throughout the week. Triple-digit highs are expected to return on Friday and possibly Saturday with minimal cooling at night, according to the National Weather Service. 

According to a Multnomah County press release, 130 people stayed at the city's four overnight cooling shelters on Tuesday. Expecting increased demand as the city remains under excessive heat warning, the cooling shelters are expanding capacity to serve up to 300 people each night.

Emergency services have seen an increase in heat-related calls and emergency room visits during the heatwave. Over the past three days, hospitals have treated 13 people for heat illness when they would normally only see two or three heat-related patients.

“The thing I really want to make sure people know is that it can happen to you,” said county program manager Brendon Haggerty. “People don’t think they’re at risk from heat. But we have plenty of younger people ending up in the emergency room right now. It’s not cooling off much at night and we’re only halfway through this thing.”

Haggerty encouraged people to take breaks, check on your family and friends who may be more vulnerable to the heat, and to spend time in an air-conditioned space. 

No one will be turned away from cooling shelters and pets are welcome. Masks are required while at the shelters and anyone needing transportation to a shelter can call 211 for assistance.

Overnight shelters operating for 24-hours per day through Friday morning:

  • Charles Jordan Community Center: 9009 N. Foss Ave.
  • East Portland Community Center: 740 S.E. 106th Ave.
  • Portland Building: 1120 S.W. 5th Ave.
  • Sunrise Center: 18901 E. Burnside

Daytime cooling center open Wednesday and Thursday 10 am to 10 pm:

  • Old Town: 435 N.W. Glisan St.

The most up to date cooling center information can be found on the county's website.

 

Update July 26, 12:20 pm:

Four cooling centers will open Tuesday at 2 pm and operate 24-hours per day until Thursday morning as Portland remains under an excessive heat warning throughout the week. One daytime shelter in Northwest Portland will also open on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Northwest Oregon is currently under emergency declaration due to an excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service. Tuesday is expected to be the hottest day of the week at 102 degrees, but forecasts predict temperatures in the upper 90s through Saturday with overnight lows in the upper 60s—not cool enough to provide needed relief to people without access to air conditioning or shelter.

Air-conditioned overnight shelters will open at 2 pm on Tuesday and are expected to remain open through at least Thursday morning, but county officials may keep the shelters open longer depending on weather conditions. The overnight cooling shelters can serve about 250 guests. Pets are welcome at the shelters and masks will be required to limit COVID spread.

Overnight shelters opening at 2 pm on Tuesday and operating for 24-hours per day:

  • Charles Jordan Community Center: 9009 N. Foss Ave.
  • East Portland Community Center: 740 S.E. 106th Ave.
  • Portland Building: 1120 S.W. 5th Ave.
  • Sunrise Center: 18901 E. Burnside

Daytime cooling center open Tuesday from 2 to 10 pm and Wednesday 10 am to 10 pm:

  • Old Town: 435 N.W. Glisan St.

The most up to date cooling center information can be found on the county's website.

 

Original post, July 25, 2:27 pm:

Four overnight and one daytime cooling shelters will open in Portland Tuesday at 2 pm amid an extended heatwave in Northwest Oregon this week.

Following an excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service, Portland and Multnomah County officials announced emergency declarations on Sunday. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 90s or higher all week, peaking at 102 degrees on Tuesday. The forecast is particularly concerning because overnight lows are expected to hover in the upper 60s, which health officials say is not low enough to adequately cool down buildings without air conditioning over night. 

“This heat wave is going to last for several days and with little relief at night, the risks are going to be compounded,” said Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury in a press release. “We've been preparing for this event, getting cooling spaces ready and getting supplies, including cooling units and survival gear, to those most in need.”

The Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) started distributing water and other hot weather supplies to unhoused Portlanders on July 19 and will continue outreach throughout the heatwave. According to a press release, JOHS—with the help of mutual aid groups—has already distributed 15,846 water bottles, 2,000 electrolyte packets, 856 cooling towels, and 400 refillable bottles.

Cooling centers are air conditioned buildings stocked with snacks, water, and places to lie down and sit, and are available to anyone who is looking for relief from the heat. Officials have not determined a closing time for the overnight cooling centers and will evaluate the need to maintain the centers or add more as the heatwave develops. During the emergency declaration, TriMet drivers will not turn away anyone who cannot pay fare if they are going to a cooling space, including cooling centers and libraries.

Cooling center locations:

  • Charles Jordan Community Center: 9009 N. Foss Ave.
  • East Portland Community Center: 740 S.E. 106th Ave.
  • Portland Building: 1120 S.W. 5th Ave.
  • Sunrise Center: 18901 E. Burnside
  • Old Town: 435 N.W. Glisan St. (Daytime only, open 2 to 10 pm)

The most up to date cooling center information can be found on the county's website.

Public libraries, which are air conditioned, will be open during the day and into the early evening. Public splash pad hours have been extended from 10 am to 8 pm during the emergency declaration. Anyone looking for cooling information, transportation assistance, or other resources can call 2-1-1. For other ways to cool off, check out the city’s interactive map of all cooling locations and list of safe places to swim in the Willamette River.Â