Overview

• Temperatures reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for three consecutive days, highly unusual for late September.
• Only 40% of households in northwestern Oregon have air conditioning, leaving many unprepared for extreme heat.
• Extended duration of high temperatures and warm overnight lows raise health concerns.
• Heat index in New Orleans also reached dangerous levels before brief relief on Wednesday.
• Experts say late-season heatwaves may be tied to climate change patterns.