I wrote last weekend about the heat that was going to push into the area, and it did push in...just not quite as aggressively as we were thinking. So, if you were dreading the hot stuff...you got lucky! Our hottest temperature was on July 4, at just 90 degrees. But your luck might run out this week.

Another large area of high pressure is expected to develop across the West, and that will allow a thermal trough to develop. These thermal troughs are crucial to seeing hot weather in the valleys and warm weather along the coast, because our winds become easterly...and block cool Pacific air. Without that cool Pacific air moderating our temperatures, those temperatures quickly rise with our bright summer sun.

With this setup expected to dominate our weather by the middle part of this upcoing week, temperatures look to break the triple-digit mark...100 degrees...by Tuesday and Wednesday.

Of course, it goes without saying, but if you have to be outside when temperatures are going to be that warm, make sure you stay hydrated. And if you start feeling 'out of it,' or are very thirsty, just take a break from the heat altogether...at least until you start feeling a bit better. I spoke with an ER doctor at OHSU this week, and he confirmed that heat like that...near 100...can be deadly if you're not careful.

Stay cool!