VOA慢速英语2021--太平洋西北部热浪打破新纪录

High temperature records are being broken across the Pacific Northwest, as an extreme heat wave covers the area.

Portland, Oregon, reached 44.4 degrees Celsius¹ Sunday. That broke the all-time temperature record of 42.2 degrees Celsius set just one day earlier.

In Eugene, Oregon, it was so hot that U.S. Track and Field cancelled Olympic trials Sunday afternoon. The National Weather Service (NWS) said it hit 43.3 degrees Celsius in Eugene, breaking the all-time record of 42.2 degrees Celsius. Those who had come to watch were also asked to leave the stadium because of the heat.

Oregon's capital city, Salem, also recorded the highest temperature in its history on Sunday: 44.4 degrees Celsius. That broke the old record by 2 degrees.

The NWS has described the heat wave in the Pacific Northwest as dangerous, unusual and intense². The area rarely sees temperatures climb this high. The extreme heat was caused by an extended³ "heat dome⁴" over the Pacific Northwest.

In Seattle, a city known for its rain, the temperature reached 40 degrees Celsius. The NWS said that was an all-time record. It was the first time temperatures were over 38 degrees Celsius for two straight days since records were first kept in 1894.

There were also some power outages. Portland General Electric said about 3,000 customers were without electricity in the city area Sunday afternoon. Puget Sound Energy reported 3,400 customers without power in the Seattle area.

Temperatures were expected to get even hotter across the region⁵ Monday, before beginning to cool Tuesday.

The heat wave stretched into British Columbia, Canada, which is just north of Washington State. In Lytton, British Columbia, temperatures hit 46.1 degrees Celsius. It was a new Canadian record.

A heat warning is in effect for most of Western Canada. The country's weather agency⁶ says many daily temperature records have been broken across British Columbia.

Seattle's King County⁷ closed several COVID-19 testing sites because of the heat. The Seattle Times reported that the city has opened additional⁸ public libraries to provide cooling centers. Sound Transit⁹ said that Seattle's light rail trains may have to run at slower speeds because of high heat on the tracks.

The heat wave also moved into Idaho. Temperatures there reached above 38 degrees Celsius. They are expected to continue for at least seven days starting Monday.

Cities were telling citizens where pools and cooling centers were available. Officials were also urging people to drink a lot of water and avoid physically¹⁰ tiring activities.

Still, about 3,000 athletes took part in an Ironman Triathlon in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on Sunday. The event includes a 3.9-kilometer swim, a 180-kilometer bike ride and a 42-kilometer run.

The NWS in Coeur d'Alene said this week's weather "will likely be one of the most extreme and prolonged¹¹ heat waves in the recorded history of the Inland Northwest."

Race organizers said they had 28,000 kilograms of ice to keep the athletes cool, KHQ-TV reported.

Stan Foster¹² works¹³ in the Ironman medical area.

"The biggest thing that we tell people is, No. 1, don't try to set a record on your race," he said. "Go slow. Enjoy your day. It's going to be hot."

Words in This Story

dome – n. a large rounded roof or ceiling that is shaped like half of a ball

outage — n. a period of time when there is no electricity in a building or area

library – n. a place where books, magazines, and other materials (such as videos and musical recordings) are available for people to use or borrow

triathlon— n. a long-distance race that has three parts (such as swimming, bicycling, and running)

prolonged — adj. lasting longer than usual or expected : continuing for a long time

1 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

2 intense   

adj.认真的，专注的；强烈的；紧张的；热情的

参考例句：

• Susan was an intense young lady.苏珊是一个热情的年轻姑娘。
• The quarrel caused her intense unhappiness.争吵令她极其不快。

3 extended   

adj.延伸的；伸展的；延长的；扩大的v.延伸(extend的过去式和过去分词)；伸展；延长

参考例句：

• an extended lunch hour 延长了的午餐时间
• France has greatly extended its influence in world affairs. 在世界事务中，法国的影响已大大地扩大了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

5 region   

n.地区，地带，区域；范围，幅度

参考例句：

• The students went to study the geology of that region.学生们去研究那个地区的地质情况。
• It is unusual to see snow in this region.这个地区难得见到雪。

6 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

7 county   

n.县，郡

参考例句：

• When the good news reached there,the whole county rejoiced.喜讯传到那里时，全县的人都欢欣鼓舞起来。
• In that year county after county fell to the enemy.那一年一个又一个的县城沦入敌人手中。

8 additional   

adj.添加的，额外的，另外的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to set down these additional rules.有必要制定这些补充规则。
• I think we can fit in an additional room.我想我们可以再加建一间房子。

9 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

10 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

11 prolonged   

a.长时期的；持续很久的

参考例句：

• Prolonged strike action debilitated the industry. 长时间的罢工削弱了这个行业的活力。
• prolonged exposure to harmful radiation 长时间接触有害辐射

12 foster   

vt.收养，培养，促进；adj.收养的，收养孩子的

参考例句：

• Nowadays young couple sometimes foster.现今年轻夫妇有时领养别人的孩子。
• The captain did his best to foster a sense of unity among the new recruits.队长尽力培养新成员之间的团结精神。

13 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。