Record heat wave persists into the weekend, wildfires continue to grow
The rain and storms yesterday and this morning have done little to relieve the heat and the heat wave continues. The area will see the mercury in the thermometer rise into the 90s the rest of the work week, and hit 100 over the weekend in a few locations.
Since the 4th of July the temperature readings in Bend have been over the 90° mark. Today will be the 14th day in a row with readings above 90, which is short of the record 19 days set in 1927.
Another record that is being challenged will be the number of days the region has recorded a temperature at or above 100 degrees in Bend during a calendar year. That number is 5, and that has been obtained this month, but if we get to 100 on Saturday, we will re-write the books yet again.
The forecast is calling for hot and dry conditions for the next several days as the high pressure off to the east will remain and build. This will result in the hot flow of air to persist in the Pacific Northwest. This ridge is centered over the Four Corners region and shows no signs of deteriorating or moving east. Persistent pattern of heat lingers until after the weekend and maybe longer.
Yesterday the lightning caused several (7) new small fire start-ups in our Tri-Counties. They are all less than one acre and are being aggressively attacked by firefighters.
Breezy weather and the fact that the rain was generally less than a tenth of an inch on Tuesday did little to help the fire issues in the state. The most rain measured in the gauges yesterday were at Prineville and La Pine. Each of those locations got about 0.15” of rain yesterday when robust storms pushed through those areas. Prineville recorded a wind gust near 50 mph Tuesday afternoon.
Stay Safe
Cow Valley, Lone Rock and the Falls fires are the three largest wildfires currently burning in the lower 48 as of today.
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