Sunlight streams through trees in southwest Portland, Aug. 11, 2025.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Multnomah County officials say they now believe two people may have died due to this week’s high temperatures.
A 57-year-old woman was reported dead in inner Southeast Portland Friday of suspected heat-related causes, according to officials with the county medical examiner’s office.
That came a day after reports that a 59-year-old man’s death could also have been caused by heat.
In both cases, officials are still investigating and could ultimately determine non-heat-related causes of death, though they aren’t releasing many other details. It’s not clear when the people died, just when their deaths were reported.
Temperatures reached the high 90s Fahrenheit on Sunday and Monday this week, and peaked at a high of 100 on Tuesday before dropping to highs in the 80s Wednesday.
Related: Recent heat wave may have led to Multnomah County death
Heat-related deaths have become more common in Northwest Oregon over the past decade as the climate has warmed.
Six people died of heat-related causes in Multnomah County last year, and close to 100 people died statewide during a record-breaking heat dome in 2021.
That tragedy prompted changes to state and local laws and led to programs that help people access residential air conditioning — including the Cooling Portland program, which has installed more than 16,000 indoor cooling units in the city. That program hopes to install 25,000 units by the end of 2026.
