Soaring Temperatures Raise the Red Flag for Fire Danger in Oregon

Temps from 95 to 100 degrees are expected for at least the next 2 days

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Critical fire weather conditions are expected to develop across the Oregon Cascades and the southern Willamette Valley and adjacent foothills on Wednesday and Thursday.

The National Weather Service in Portland has issued a RED FLAG WARNING in effect from noon Wednesday to 11 p.m. Thursday for hot, dry and unstable conditions combined with dry fuels for fire weather zones.

Affected areas include Mt. Hood National Forest west of the Cascade Crest, Willamette National Forest west of the Cascade Crest, and the southern Willamette Valley and adjacent foothills.

Target Areas:

• Central Oregon Cascade Foothills
• Mt. Hood National Forest - West of Cascade Crest
• North Oregon Cascade Foothills
• Willamette National Forest
• Willamette Valley

Temperatures will be soaring from 95 to 100 degrees over the lowlands, and 80 to low-90’s in the higher elevations.

Relative humidity will be 10-20% in many areas, and overnight recoveries will be limited along and above thermal belts. The combination of an increasingly hot, dry and unstable environment and very dry fuels may result in rapid growth of new or existing fires.

A RED FLAG WARNING means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of the above conditions can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Source: NOAA