The heat wave claimed the life of a man who was in a motorhome east of Pascoas triple-digit temperatures in the Tri-Cities continue for a second week.
Franklin County Coroner Curtis McGary said the 61-year-old man likely died in his trailer on Wednesday when the Tri-Cities temperature reached 108. He was last seen that day and friends found his body when they checked on him on Saturday.
Intoxication appeared to contribute to his death. He may have passed out in his trailer, McGary said.
By mid-morning Saturday, the temperature in his trailer reached 112 degrees in some areas, the coroner said. The trailer was in an agricultural area on Green Road, about five miles east of Pasco, between the Pasco-Kahlotus Highway and the Snake River.
As of Sunday, the high temperature in the Tri-Cities was at least 100 degrees on nine of the last 10 days, and the temperature has been above the normal range since July 4, according to data from the National Weather Service.
He predicts more highs of at least 100 or hotter until at least Sunday, July 21st. On Sunday, the forecast is for a high of 106.
The Weather Channel, which provides a longer forecastpredicts that highs will not cool below triple digits until Tuesday, July 23rd.
Tri-Cities area residents will get little relief from the evening heat this week. Lows through Saturday night are forecast in the upper 60s to lower 70s.
Normal mid-July highs in the Tri-Cities are about 93 and normal lows are about 57.
