The Willamette Valley’s largest cities posted their hottest July on record in 2024 , according to data from the National Weather Service in Portland.
Salem’s average temperature was 74.4, a decent bit warmer than previous highs of 73.3 in 2021 and 73.1 in 2015, in records dating back to 1893.
Eugene’s average temperature was 72.4, breaking the previous record of 71.5 in 2015 and 71.2 in 2022, in records dating back to 1893.
Portland’s average temperature was 74.4 degrees this past July, breaking the previous record of 74.1 set in 1995, in records dating back to 1940.
Across Oregon, it was the second-hottest July on record, at 70.3 degrees, which is second only to 2021, when the temperature averaged 71.4, according to preliminary weather data.
The average temperature across Oregon since the late 1800s is 64.8 degrees.
NWS meteorologist Noah Alviz said the heat was a combination of warm nights and hot days that brought little relief in July.
“We had a really big ridge of high pressure that didn’t break down easily for most of July,” Alviz said. “That didn’t allow much onshore flow from the Pacific and kept temperatures hot for most of July.