Heat Fuels Yosemite, California Fire

2,000 residents could be forced to evacuate homes threatened by the fire that as of Sunday was 0% contained.

Image courtesy: Accuweather.com

(YOSEMITE, Calif.) - Forecasters say blistering heat in the West is fueling a massive wildfire in Yosemite National Park. By Tuesday, a new Pacific system moving into British Columbia will ease the heat in the Northwest, AccuWeather.com reported.

Cal Fire reports the Telegraph Fire has burned over 18,000 acres near Yosemite National Park since it began on Friday. The flames have destroyed at least one dozen homes and 27 other buildings.

As many as 2,000 could be forced to evacuate homes threatened by the fire that as of Sunday was 0% contained.

The heat built across the Northwest over the weekend. The sunshine and warmth will continue today. By Tuesday, a low pressure area will approach the West Coast.

Showers moving into the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday will bring much-needed moisture. Seattle this month has recorded one day of measurable rain. The 0.25 of an inch of rain that has fallen this month is 32 percent of the normal rainfall total for the period.

The moisture will move inland by Wednesday, sparking potentially strong thunderstorms across the northern Rockies.