Extreme Heat: What To Know

Extreme heat isn't just uncomfortable. It can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or even death. Some people are more at risk, including people with health conditions, the very young and very old.

Get ready for heat waves now. Find out what to do, how to reduce your risk, and where to find places to cool down. Get tips for dealing with hot weather. Learn how the City of Portland is preparing for hot weather and high temperatures.

Heat stroke and heat exhaustion

Heat stroke can be fatal. Learn more about warning signs, treatment, and prevention at the Oregon Health Authority page Preventing Heat-related Illnesses.

Find a cooling space

In extreme heat, Multnomah County and the City of Portland will open cooling spaces, such as: 

• Cooling centers
• Cooling shelters
• Community centers
• Libraries
• Misting stations

Find a complete list at the Multnomah County page Help for when it's hot.

See more information about overnight emergency shelters as cooling options for our unsheltered neighbors.

Find cooling spaces near you on this interactive map.

TriMet will not turn away anyone who is unable to pay fare from traveling to and from a cooling center during a declared heat emergency. Please tell your bus operator that you're heading to or from a cooling center.

For more information about cooling spaces, contact 211info.org:

Find cooling spaces in Washington County.

Find cooling spaces in Clackamas County.

Find a place to splash around

Portland Parks & Recreation maintains interactive fountains that stay on through the summer. It’s OK to play in them! Splash pads are on.

Find fountain and splash pad locations and hours.

For details on other Portland Parks & Recreation programs that may be affected by heat, visit Portland Parks & Recreation weather updates.

Find a place to swim

Portland Parks & Recreation owns and operates four indoor pools and seven outdoor pools. Outdoor pools open June 18, 2026.

Swimming in the Willamette and Columbia rivers can be fun and refreshing. Be careful! Common causes of drowning are very cold water, high river levels, water moving fast, and debris from storms and runoff.

Find parks with water access and get important safety information at Swimming in Portland’s Rivers.

Planning to get wet in the Willamette River? Check the Rec! We test the water quality at several locations on the Willamette and post the results weekly. Learn more at Check the Rec.

Keep your home cool

Check out these tips from the Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board on cooling without air conditioning.

You may qualify for an air conditioner if you're on the Oregon Health Plan. Learn more about the Oregon Health Plan's Climate Supports program.

The City program that provides cooling units to low-income Portlanders will be discontinued on June 30, 2026. Learn more at Cooling Portland or call 311 to check it out.

Remember, always plug portable air conditioners directly into wall outlets. Using an extension cord or surge protector may cause a fire because they are not rated high enough to safely power a portable unit. Even a new cord in good condition can overheat and catch fire. Also, do not run the cord from the unit under a rug or through a wall. Read more tips for preventing fires.

Check on family, friends and neighbors

When it gets hot, some people are more at risk, including people with health conditions, the very young and very old.

In recent years, people who lived alone without air conditioning had the highest rates of illness and death. Check in with neighbors, family and friends who live alone.

Unsheltered neighbors are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. Check in on them, too. Call 911 to request a welfare check by Portland Street Response.

Get support and tips to stay safe and healthy at the PublicAlerts Extreme Heat page.

Don't burn stuff

Don’t set off fireworks. Fireworks are banned in the City of Portland. Year-round.

During a heat wave, the Fire Marshal may issue a burn ban. Burn bans typically prohibit:

• Recreational campfires
• Fire pits
• Burning yard debris
• Agricultural burning
• Open burning

Find out more about burn bans in Portland.

Find out about outdoor burning, wood stoves and fireplaces in Multnomah County.

Helpful hints for heat waves

• Heat stress. This Heat Stress Card helps you identify symptoms of heat illness and get help immediately.
• Public transit. There may be delays to TriMet service during hot weather. Learn about TriMet, MAX, and WES operations at trimet.org/heat.
• Worker safety. In Oregon, employees must have access to water, rest and shade on hot days. Learn more about heat safety in the workplace and find information about heat illness prevention and planning tools.
• Help paying your water bill. If you’re struggling to pay your sewer, stormwater, and water bill, we can help. Learn how to apply for a discount on your bill and lower your water use.
• Garbage service. Waste collection drivers may start earlier than normal during extreme heat. To avoid a missed pickup, set out garbage, recycling, and compost bins the night before.
• Air quality and smoke. Check the Air Quality Index to see how clean the air is and learn potential health risks. Don’t burn yard debris.
• Building inspections. Building inspections may be delayed due to extreme heat. For updates, visit Portland Permitting & Development.

Stay cool in the heat – videos 

Check out these how-to videos on staying cool in the heat. Multiple languages.

• Stay Cool: Vietnamese: Tiếng Việt
• Stay Cool: Russian: русский
• Stay Cool: Spanish: Español
• Stay Cool: Ukrainian: українська мова
• Stay Cool: Mandarin: 官话
• Stay Cool: Nepali: नेपाली
• Stay Cool: English with ASL

Making Portland more comfortable in extreme heat

Voters created the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund to help make Portland more resilient as we face a changing climate. Here's what we're working on to make our city more comfortable in high temperatures.

• Cooling Portland has delivered 20,000 portable cooling units for low-income Portlanders.
• Every summer we open 28 splash pads and interactive fountains.
• We helped people plant 8,500 trees in 2025 across streets, parks, public properties, schools, community sites, and private yards—most of them large, evergreen, or native.
• We offer free trees to renters, homeowners, business owners, and educators.
• We're making new spaces for trees where they are needed most through innovative designs like Trees in the Curb Zone and adding street trees to medians along 82 Avenue.
• Portland has an important role to play in addressing climate change, the underlying driver of extreme weather. Find out more about the City's progress on our shared climate emergency.