Oregon is experiencing four times as many days with both extreme heat and wildfire smoke as it did two decades ago, according to a study released by the Oregon Health Authority, with the state recording nine heat-related deaths in 2025 alone.
The Oregon Health Authority's Climate and Health report for 2025 analyzed health trends related to climate impacts by comparing five-year chunks, starting with 2006 through 2010 and ending with 2021 through 2025. The findings show Oregon averaged 12 days of extreme heat per year in the earlier period, doubling to 22 days in the most recent period. Wildfire smoke days tripled from 11 to 33 per year, and the overlap of both hazards quadrupled from two to nine days annually.
Gabriela Goldfarb, the Oregon Health Authority's environmental public health manager, called the trends "really eye-opening." She said both heat and smoke can affect all organs, not just respiratory systems but also heart conditions and strokes.
The report noted 2025 was the state's third warmest year since record keeping began in 1895. Early-season heat in June 2025 broke temperature records, which the report says contributed to a spike in heat-related illnesses. Overall, the state recorded nine heat-related deaths in 2025, reflecting a grim trend of higher deaths since 2021.
"Our big hope is that these numbers validate the need to take action," Goldfarb said.
Some of the areas most impacted by extreme weather are Southern, Central and Eastern Oregon, with rural areas hit the hardest. Ben Brint, senior climate program director with the nonprofit Oregon Environmental Council, said the results are painful to see but not surprising. He described the impacts of climate change as being in “full-on acceleration mode.”
"We really need an all-hands-on-deck approach to solve these problems. It's not just one agency; it's the entire public health system. It's the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon, its local, county health authorities, community-based organizations, and officials," Brint said. "We all need to be working in lockstep to try to both adapt to, but ultimately mitigate these challenges."
The report also found that 71% of 11th graders surveyed reported experiencing stress about the future due to climate change, and nearly 40% said these feelings negatively affected their lives. "It's not a wonder that it's on their minds," Goldfarb said. "I think it's on the minds of a lot of people, and so it's showing we can't really shield our youth from that."
Despite the grim findings, the health authority report noted that programs aimed at climate action are helping residents adapt. The Oregon Health Authority's Healthy Home Grant has awarded nearly $25 million in competitive grants to 34 organizations, serving 481 households across 25 counties between 2024 and 2025. The Oregon Department of Energy also offers programs to install heat pumps, which have been so popular they have exhausted available funding.
Brint called for continued funding. "We have existing programs in place that we just need to continue to fund and support and not walk away from, especially in this federal moment and an international crisis," he said. "Oregon can lead the way and can continue to do what it's been doing in that regard."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Oregonians face a growing health threat from the compounding effects of extreme heat and wildfire smoke, which can cause heatstroke, heart conditions, and strokes
- The state's youth report significant climate anxiety, with 71% of 11th graders stressed about the future and nearly 40% saying it negatively affects their lives
- Federal funding for climate action has been lost, and Oregon is not on track to meet its own emission reduction goals, creating uncertainty about future adaptation efforts
Background
Oregon has historically been cooler than much of the western United States, but average temperatures have increased by about 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970, with every year since 2000 except 2011 recording warmer-than-average temperatures. A recent United Nations report estimates the planet's average temperature could climb by 5 degrees Fahrenheit this century, nearly double the increase countries agreed to in an international climate accord.
Key Perspectives
Oregon Health Authority: The trends are "really eye-opening" and validate the need for action, with both heat and smoke affecting multiple organs including heart and cerebrovascular systems.
Oregon Environmental Council: The impacts of climate change are in "full-on acceleration mode," requiring an "all-hands-on-deck approach" involving tribes, local authorities, and community organizations to adapt and mitigate.
Kelly Juarez, Linn County resident: Despite moving to Oregon for its cooler climate, she found it hotter and smokier than expected, but accessed a home modification program that helped her family stay safe, while still feeling "safe" from potential fire.
What to Watch
- Whether Oregon lawmakers find alternative funding to replace lost federal climate money, as existing state programs have already exhausted available funds
- The trajectory of heat-related deaths and emergency room visits as early-season heat events become more common
- Whether the state can get back on track to meet its emission reduction goals amid rising temperatures and smoke days
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedDays with both extreme heat and wildfire smoke quadrupled over two decades.OPB: “Combined, Oregon is experiencing quadruple the number of days with both extreme heat and smoke, compared to two decades ago.”
- SupportedExtreme-heat days doubled from the 2006–2010 period to the 2021–2025 period.OPB: “Oregon averaged 12 days of extreme heat per year in 2006 through 2010. That has doubled to 22 days from 2021 through 2025.”
- SupportedWildfire-smoke days tripled from the 2006–2010 period to the 2021–2025 period.OPB: “Oregon averaged 11 days of wildfire smoke per year in 2006 through 2010. That has tripled to 33 days from 2021 through 2025.”
- SupportedDays with both hazards rose from two to nine per year between the two periods.OPB: “Wildfire smoke and extreme heat happened at the same time, on average, two days per year from 2006 through 2010. That quadrupled to nine days from 2021 through 2025.”
- SupportedOregon recorded nine heat-related deaths in 2025.OPB: “Overall, the state recorded nine heat-related deaths in 2025, reflecting a grim trend of higher deaths since 2021.”
- SupportedGoldfarb called the trends “really eye-opening.”OPB: “Oregon Health Authority’s environmental public health manager Gabriela Goldfarb said the trends are “really eye-opening.””
- SupportedGoldfarb said heat and smoke can affect all organs, including heart conditions and strokes, not just respiratory health.OPB: ““Both heat and smoke really can affect all of our organs,” she said. “It’s not just respiratory; it’s heart conditions, what they call cerebrovascular, so think strokes.””
- SupportedThe report said 2025 was Oregon’s third-warmest year since records began in 1895.OPB: “The report also noted 2025 was the state’s third warmest year since record keeping began in 1895 .”
- SupportedThe report said early-season heat in June 2025 broke temperature records and contributed to a spike in heat-related illnesses.OPB: “But early-season heat in June 2025 broke temperature records, which contributed to a spike in heat-related illnesses, the report says.”
- SupportedThe report said 71% of surveyed 11th graders experienced stress about the future due to climate change.OPB: “In a statewide health survey of 11 th graders, 71% said they are experiencing stress about the future due to climate change”
- SupportedBrint described the impacts of climate change as being in “full-on acceleration mode.”OPB: “The impacts of climate change have recently been in “full-on acceleration mode,” he said.”
- SupportedBrint said, “We really need an all-hands-on-deck approach to solve these problems,” and quoted the need for the public health system, tribes, local authorities, organisations and officials to work together.OPB: ““We really need an all-hands-on-deck approach to solve these problems. It’s not just one agency; it’s the entire public health system. It’s the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon, its local, county health authorities, community-based organizations, and officials,” Brint said.”
