High temperatures this week may have contributed to the death of a 59-year-old man in Multnomah County.

Officials with the county medical examiner’s office say he died Wednesday, but aren’t releasing many other details.

They say they’re investigating the suspected heat death, and could ultimately determine the man died of other causes. They also say he was found in the 97233 zip code — an area that includes part of East Portland and part of Gresham.

Temperatures reached the high 80s Wednesday – but were much hotter the previous three days, with the official high peaking at 100 on Tuesday. Persistent lingering heat and warm nights are linked to medical problems and deaths when people cannot cool off overnight.

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 dozens died during a record-breaking heat dome event in 2021. Those deaths ultimately prompted changes to state and local laws and the launch of programs aimed at increasing access to residential air conditioning.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/08/14/recent-heat-wave-multnomah-county-death/