Multnomah County declares state of emergency, opens cooling center

Public SafetyPublished: Jul. 21, 2026, 12:04 p.m.Temperatures are expected to reach up to 99 degrees on Tuesday.Sean Meagher/The OregonianBy Isabel Funk | The Oregonian/OregonLiveMultnomah County has declared a state of emergency and opened one of its dedicated cooling centers amid scorching temperatures Tuesday.Temperatures in the Portland area could reach a high near 99 degrees Fahrenheit, with some patchy smoke, according to the National Weather Service. That’s also contributing to a dip in air quality.The state of emergency will last until 10 p.m.Portlanders looking to cool down can visit the Bud Clark Commons, at 650 NW Irving St., from noon to 9 p.m. The center will provide snacks and water.Libraries are also open until 8 p.m., and other cooling spaces like community centers and foun