PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Summer heat is on the rise again around the Portland, Vancouver metro area.
Temperatures will return to the upper 80s to low 90s for some along the Willamette Valley Thursday afternoon. This comes as the wildfire threat continues to sit high and the number of rain-free days does the same.
The wildfire threat in relation to thunderstorms will decrease, but will remain high due to the summer heat that's expected through the weekend. Air quality in eastern Oregon will continue to suffer through the end of the week as western fires continue to burn. High elevation smoke will push closer to the Willamette Valley, but will have little impact on the I-5 corridor. The thickets of the smoke will remain over the Cascades and point east.
Despite hazy skies, temperatures are expected to peak on Saturday. Highs will return to the mid-90s on Saturday with sunny skies. Temperatures will drop slightly on Sunday as a few more clouds move into the mix.
Temperatures will stabilize to near-normal conditions by the start of next week. That's expected to last through the middle of the week as rain remains absent.
