SEATTLE, July 28 (UPI) -- An intense Pacific Northwest heat wave threatened to topple Seattle's all-time high temperature of 100 degrees , forecasters say.
The peak temperature could be reached Wednesday when the National Weather Service is forecasting a high of 99 degrees, just one degree away from the Emerald City's all-time high, the Seattle Times reported.
"We are about to enter a historic heat wave for our region," the newspaper quoted Clifford Mass, a University of Washington atmospheric sciences professor, as writing on his blog. "One day, your grandchildren will ask you … did you really experience the temperatures of July 29, 2009?"
The Times said King and Pierce county officials have designated public libraries and other community facilities as cooling centers for those who don't have access to air conditioning.
The mercury in Portland, Ore., topped out at 103 degrees Monday, a record for the date, triggering electric grid overloads. The Oregonian reported 10,000 customers of Pacific Gas & Electric customers were without power Monday in the Portland region, but officials reported that number was down to 700 by 5 a.m. Tuesday.
