Only three states experienced more daytime warming than Oregon over past three decades
Published 11:00 am Tuesday, July 6, 2021
PORTLAND — Oregon’s daytime temperatures have increased an average of 3 degrees since 1990, an Associated Press analysis of federal data has found.
Summer days and nights have been warming up around the nation over the past 30 years, data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show. But some states are heating up more than others, with Oregon near the very top of the list, the AP found.
All the states with the greatest increased in daytime temperatures are in the West, AP found. California, Nevada and New Mexico topped the list, with increases of 3.3 degrees. Colorado and Utah tied with Oregon for fourth place.
Increases in overnight temperatures, meanwhile, were pronounced in some East Coast states as well as West Coast ones. New Jersey and Delaware topped that list, with overnight lows growing by an average of 3 degrees since 1990. Next on the list, with 2.7 degree gains in their average overnight lows: California, Maryland, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.
Nighttime lows are important for human health because the body needs to recover from high daytime heat, experts say.