Fire danger raises into the weekend with chance thunderstorms

Highs today will reach triple digits across most areas. Little relief will occur in the nighttime hours tonight and tomorrow night with lows in the 60s. Today will be sunny but clouds will come in for the weekend.

The ridge centered over the Four Corners is the dominating pattern for our region. However, there is a smaller upper level low pushing its way into the Northwest from the Pacific this evening and through the weekend. As this happens, it will help to lift up the moisture we’re also seeing move into our region. This means we’ll see some thunderstorms come Saturday afternoon and evening. These are expected to occur mostly to the south-southeast of the Tri-County area, but Deschutes and Crook County are still expected to see an isolated storm or two.

In addition to the hot temperatures, these storms will increase the threat for wildfires to start and spread. We’ll see downdrafts that will create some gusty conditions, fanning flames, and lightning that could easily spark the dry fuel on the ground. A Fire Weather Watch and Warning are out for parts of our region. Refer to the banner at the top of the page for the latest updates.

Air Quality Advisory is still out for Deschutes County until further notice.

Smokey the Bear’s birthday is next week, which is a great reminder to practice fire safety during these hot and dry summer days. This year’s fire season has been exceptionally active, with a number of weeks still left ahead. Stay safe, many wildfires are preventable.



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