Relief from the heat, not the smoke

The string of 90° days will come to an end today as we put the longest stretch of consecutive days over 90 behind us. The old record was 19 days set in 1927, 2024 holds the record with 21 days in a row.  The “less hot” temperature readings are a good thing for firefighters as they battle over 100 fires currently classified as active in Oregon.

Highs in the 80s are likely over the weekend as a cooler pattern settles in thanks to a large area of low pressure to our north. The northwest to west flow of air will usher in much welcomed cooler conditions.  The region will also see some added moisture in the atmosphere, which also helps fire-fighting efforts.

The thunderstorms Wednesday were severe and robust over the eastern half of the state. There were three Flash Flood Warnings issued over the Durkee and Cow Valley burn scars late in the day and gusts in the east were near 60 mph on several occasions. The gusty winds are not kind to suppression efforts, but reports from the region indicate the awesome efforts by fire fighters kept the many blazes in check. 

As far as the smoke is concerned, Deschutes and Crook Counties are under an Air Quality Alert/Advisory until further notice.

The air quality is in the unhealthy range once again as the smoke will continue to impact Central Oregon. Several large fires in Crook County and a Lone Rock Megafire in Wheeler County are contributing heavy smoke to the atmosphere. We are in a slightly favorable position with respect to the fires east of our area, as the winds are generally transporting the smoke to the east and southeast. Unfortunately, there are several smaller fires burning over the Cascades that are producing the smoke that is arriving here in our region.

We are happy that the temps are back to normal or a bit below, but it is still only July and we have a hot month of August ahead. 

Stay inside as much as possible, the smoke will impact the area significantly.

Keep an eye on the alert banner at the top of the page for updates to air quality and other weather issues.

Stay Safe

Don’t forget to download the KTVZ weather app to stay safe and informed.
Stay Safe
Don’t forget to download the KTVZ weather app to stay safe and informed.

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