Under the shade of a ponderosa pine at Bend’s Riverbend Park on Monday, Elle and Jared Gohr were tightening straps on lifejackets and securing gear on their raft as they prepared to enter the Deschutes River for a midday float.

The Seattle couple and their two small children, Margo and August, were looking to get in the water early to cool off as the temperature at noon in Bend had already soared to 92 degrees and was on its way to the high 90s by day’s end.

“We were joking that we picked one of the hottest places in the country this week, but it’s been good,” said Jared Gohr. “Our Airbnb didn’t have AC, so we’ve been trying to get out of the house as much as possible. This is our third time floating this week.”

The Gohr family — and just about everyone else in Central Oregon this week — have been searching for cool places to beat the heat as record-breaking temperatures cooked Bend, Redmond and other areas.

High-elevation lakes, shady riverbanks and public pools were popular spots for people looking to cool off.

Kaitlyn Webb, a spokesperson for the Deschutes National Forest, said parking lots at lakes and rivers were congested over the holiday weekend, and she recommends carpooling when possible. Lava River Cave has been closing one hour early, at 1 p.m., for the safety of staff and volunteers, she said. The early closures will continue through Tuesday.

Record-breaking temps

Mary Wister, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pendleton, said weekend temperatures included 104 degrees in Redmond, 100 degrees in Bend and 95 degrees in Sunriver, tying or breaking records. On Monday afternoon in Bend, it was 102 degrees.

Wister said the hot temperatures are expected to continue. Highs of 103 to 107 degrees are forecast for Tuesday.

“Tuesday looks to be the hottest day of the week, not just for Central Oregon, but all of Eastern Oregon,” said Wister. “We haven’t seen the end of it. In fact, it’s going to get worse today and Tuesday.”

Record-breaking temperatures

Record-breaking temperatures

The hot weather broke records in Central Oregon.

Redmond

• Saturday’s high of 104 tied the July 6 high set in 1968.

• Sunday’s high of 103 broke the previous July 7 high of 100 degrees set in 2015.

Bend

• Saturday’s high of 100 broke the previous July 6 high of 99 degrees set in 2007.

• Sunday’s high of 100 broke the previous July 7 high of 98 degrees set in 1968.

Sunriver

• Saturday’s high of 95 broke the previous July 6 high of 93 degrees set in 2017.

• Sunday’s high of 93 tied the July 7 high set in 2017.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning in much of Central Oregon until 11 p.m. on Tuesday for dry and unstable conditions that can trigger wildfires. The warning prompted Redmond Fire & Rescue to issue a ban on all recreational fires.

As temperatures continue to climb, Wister advised people to check on elderly neighbors and relatives, and limit children’s exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day.

“Don’t underestimate the heat; it’s a very dangerous thing. It’s pretty much the No. 1 weather-related killer,” she said.

Service provider challenges

The hot weather is particularly dangerous for people living without shelter. Individuals needing shelter from the heat can call 211 for assistance.

In preparation for climbing temperatures, providers who serve those experiencing homelessness expanded capacity and stocked up on supplies to help people deal with the elements. Shepherd’s House Ministries, which runs two around-the-clock shelters in Bend and Redmond, also placed a greater emphasis on distributing water to people without shelter, said Aaron Mitchel, a spokesperson for Shepherd’s House.

But the four cases of bottled water Shepherd’s House received after a call for donations last week wasn’t enough to endure the heat wave. Shepherd’s House issued another urgent call for water donations Monday morning.

“Many men, women, and children living on the streets face severe dehydration and other dangerous health risks,” a news release said.

More Coverage

More Coverage

Bottled water donations urgently needed in Bend, Redmond during heat wave

Reducing exertion levels

Children are also vulnerable as they spend considerable time outdoors during the hottest times of the day. Bend Park & Recreation District said it is reducing exertion levels for some of its outdoor camps and offering more breaks indoors or in the shade. Park services crews are also getting an earlier start than normal, with some work beginning at 5:30 a.m.

“The river parks and (Alpenglow Park’s) spray ground water feature were very busy over the weekend, and we expect that use to continue all week,” said Julie Brown, a spokesperson for the district. The Gohrs have cooled off in the High Desert Museum and taken a road trip to Koosah and Sahalie falls on the McKenzie River.

“Even during the hottest part of the day, it was really cool. It was shaded and the wind was blowing over the river, which made it really nice,” said Jared Gohr.

Strategic planning

Courtney Braun, the owner of Wanderlust Tours, said it has taken some strategic planning to guide outdoor tour groups during the hot weather. Hiking tours are dispatched in the early morning when temperatures are still mild. Then visitors go on cave tours or paddling in higher-elevation lakes later in the day.

“We have seen a lot more last-minute bookings as people are looking for something to beat the heat,” she said. “We’re making adjustments to make sure people are prepared.”

Across Bend during the holiday weekend, grocery stores were filled with shoppers stocking up on bags of ice and picnic supplies. Hardware stores were busy too, with pool toys, fans and barbecues flying off the shelves.

“We are selling out of hoses and watering devices,” said Jeff Rudack, the assistant manager at Ace Hardware’s South Highway 97 store. “Aisle 16 is our lawn and garden aisle, and it’s really tapped out right now.”

Water toys , kiddie pools and rafts for the river are also in high demand, he said. Rudack said it’s challenging to keep store workers cool as they help customers bring items to their vehicles.

“This is a heat wave, so we’re just trying to keep employees hydrated along with stocking product people want,” he said.

Busy river scene

Back at Riverbend Park, Ella Frank, rental lead at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe, was busy getting tubes into the hands of eager river floaters. She described the scene by the water over the weekend as busy, but people have remained cordial despite the heat.

“In the afternoons it has been a sea of tubes out there, but we try to make it go out in waves as much as possible so everyone has fun without being right on top of each other,” she said.

She said her staff members are supplied with plenty of drinks to stay hydrated as the temperature climbs. During their 15-minute breaks, there is really just one place to go.

“We also jump in the river once in a while,” she said. “It’s nice to cool off.”

— Bulletin reporters Clayton Franke and Noemi Arellano-Summer contributed to this report.