Heat Wave

Since 1881, when the National Weather Service began observing temperatures in Spokane, the mercury has topped 100 degrees five times in June. If the forecast holds, Spokane will double that number by Wednesday.

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News

Shawn Vestal: She lost power in the heat wave, but Avista told her the problem was lightning

UPDATED: Fri., July 2, 2021

Like a lot of folks, Christine Wren employs a whole range of tactics to manage the heat in her Hillyard home.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Heat appears to have led to 7 deaths in Spokane, medical examiner says; experts explain dangers of hot weather

UPDATED: Fri., July 2, 2021

Amid a run of record-setting temperatures, seven deaths in Spokane appear to have been related to the heat, according to the Spokane County medical examiner.

Several drownings reported during Northwest heat wave

UPDATED: Wed., June 30, 2021

From staff and wire reports

News > Idaho

Residents thankful Avista outages are dwindling after large blackouts, but infrastructure worries linger

UPDATED: Wed., June 30, 2021

Avista Utilities customers were relieved Wednesday that the utility had relatively few planned blackouts to conserve energy after off-and-on outages that came as record heat baked the area Tuesday. But for some, concerns about the utility’s capacity also lingered.

News > Pacific NW

Dozens of deaths may be tied to historic Northwest heat wave

UPDATED: Wed., June 30, 2021

The grim toll of the historic heat wave that scorched the Pacific Northwest became more apparent Wednesday as authorities in Canada, Washington state and Oregon said they were investigating dozens of deaths likely caused by temperatures that soared well above 100 degrees.

News > Nation/World

‘Orange skies:’ Biden raising federal pay to fight wildfires

UPDATED: Wed., June 30, 2021

The Biden administration said Wednesday it is hiring more federal firefighters — and immediately raising their pay — as officials ramp up response efforts in the face of a severe drought that is setting the stage for another destructive summer of intense wildfires across the West.

News > Pacific NW

Spokane hospitals, fire department busy with calls for heat illness; (slightly) cooler weather in forecast for Fourth of July weekend

UPDATED: Thu., July 1, 2021

Hospitals and fire crews stayed busy Wednesday as the Inland Northwest baked at well over 100 degrees for a second day, but forecasters say the end of the historic heat that’s kept first responders busy with medical calls could be in sight.

News > Crime/Public Safety

‘The heat just amplifies any problem’: Spokane Fire Department’s special medical unit kept busy as heat rages

UPDATED: Tue., June 29, 2021

Less than 2 minutes after the Spokane Fire Department’s Alternative Response Unit pulled into Station 1 on Tuesday afternoon, the next call came in.

News > Pacific NW

Road buckle near Colfax as heat wave pounds highway infrastructure

UPDATED: Tue., June 29, 2021

Pavement on U.S. Highway 195 north of Colfax buckled on Tuesday, in what is likely to be just the beginning of infrastructure damage as a historic heat dome bears down on the Northwest.

News > Spokane

Temperature reaches 109 degrees, making Tuesday the hottest day on record in Spokane

UPDATED: Tue., June 29, 2021

Tuesday became Spokane’s hottest day on record when the temperature reached 109 degrees at the Spokane International Airport just after 4 p.m., the National Weather Service reported.

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A&E
Beating the heat wave at Pine River Park
Sun., July 11, 2021