Mild temperatures, dangerous air quality, spotty showers
The pattern will be changing back to a very hot scenario later in the week, but for now the weather is cooler than normal with a few spotty showers. The chance for some light rain along the east face of the Cascades is low, but we may see a few showers off and on into the night. The clouds and chance for rain is helping to keep temperatures in check to day as we are likely to top out in the 70s or possibly the low 80s. The cooler conditions and light rain will benefit the firefighting efforts in the region, for now.
There is another cool day in store for Central Oregon Tuesday along with some early morning showers, but then the skies will clear. The below normal pattern we have been experiencing for the past few days will yield to a much hotter pattern by the middle of the week and into the weekend.
Highs by Wednesday will be, once again, in the 90s as the heat and dry conditions set up camp for several days once again. Thursday will see the mercury in the thermometer rise near or above 100 in numerous locations as high pressure returns. Fire danger remains high, and will increase as we push back into the upper 90s.
The air quality is in the unhealthy range once again today as the fires to the west of the region provide the smoke. There are a few wildfires burning along the crest of the Cascades near Blue River and Oakridge that are significant smoke producers. Compared to the mega fires to our east they seem small, but they are still significant and dangerous. The wetting rain is expected to be helpful in fire suppression in that area, but not too beneficial as the region is so dry.
The fires in the east are continuing to grow, not as quickly, but still growing. The winds are generally from the west and northwest today and will hopefully keep the smoke from the catastrophic fires pushed to the east.
We are in the middle of the fire season, and the middle of the summer, so although we are getting some cooler weather now, we still have a long way to go.
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