Categories: Oregon News

Multnomah County cooling centers open amid record-breaking heat

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — As record-breaking triple-digit temperatures are expected in the Portland metro area on Saturday, Multnomah County is helping residents beat the heat by opening two daytime cooling centers.

The announcement comes after County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson declared a state of emergency on Friday, which will last through noon Monday, Aug. 25.

As a result, county public health officials are warning people to seek indoor spaces with air conditioning and to limit their driving on roads. The county added temperatures will likely remain elevated overnight and are only expected to cool gradually in the following days.

“We’re in the second day of high heat. Yesterday was record temperatures,” said Chris Voss, Multnomah County’s Director of Emergency Management. “We were at 102, the previous record is 98, today we’re looking at potentially 103 degrees. This is serious weather we need to consider. If you can avoid the hottest part of the day, we want you to do that.”

A cooling center open at Friendly House in NW Portland as temperatures approach the triple digits on Aug. 23, 2025. (KOIN)

The county noted cooling centers open Friday already served a total of nearly 140 people. 

The shelters will be open until 9 p.m., will provide food and water, and pets are welcome. 

Current locations for the cooling centers are listed below:

  • Multnomah County East Building: 600 NE 8th St., Gresham
  • Friendly House, 1737 NW 26th Ave., Portland

Additionally, three Multnomah County libraries are extending their hours to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

  • Central Library: 801 SW 10th Ave., Portland
  • Gresham Library: 385 NW Miller Ave., Gresham
  • Midland Library: 805 SE 122nd Ave., Portland

For other public cooling spaces, such as pools and splashpads, check Multnomah County’s cooling map.

There are also cooling centers in other metro area counties, including Clackamas County. Officials said they will assess the needs each day. Their current cooling shelters are listed on their website.

A KOIN 6 Weather Alert remains in place through the weekend, as does an Extreme Heat Warning for the Willamette Valley through Tuesday from the National Weather Service.

Further, due to the extreme heat, TriMet says all MAX trains may be experiencing delays up to 30 minutes. They encourage commuters to check here for the latest on delays before traveling.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue our hot weather coverage.

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