Nation ‘Horrific’: Record-breaking Pacific Northwest heat wave blamed for nearly 100 deaths in Oregon July 5, 2021July 6, 2021 Steven Vargas, USA TODAY Comments Off on ‘Horrific’: Record-breaking Pacific Northwest heat wave blamed for nearly 100 deaths in Oregon Portland, the state's largest city, broke its all-time temperature record for three straight days, topping out at 116 degrees. Scores have died.