Hot and dry pattern ahead, not much relief for firefighters battling new wildfires
The thunderstorms over the past few days have done some damage, starting several wildfires. In our area alone, there are three very large fires that are being aggressively attacked. The Wiley Flat, the Shoe Fly and the Rail Ridge all are in the thousands of acres, Wiley near 10k, Shoe Fly near 20k and the Rail Ridge at 7k as of noon Tuesday. The smoke from those fires will be heading away from the 97 highway, meaning that the air quality is not expected to be too awful. We are once again in the favorable wind flow with respect to the smoke transportation.
As for the weather, we are heating up again as the mercury in the thermometer is expected to rise into the 90s Wednesday and repeat that each day through the weekend. A high pressure ridge is setting up today off the coast and will be in position for several days. This will keep the region dry and well above normal. The normal high temperature for early September in Central Oregon is around 79, but we will be about 15 to 20° above that starting tomorrow.
There may be a few records broken on Friday, with that being the peak day of this heat wave. Redmond’s record for the 6th of September is 98, and the forecast is calling for near 100. Bend will hit 98, but the record is 100, so that should hold. Madras may also rewrite the books with a high of 99 since the record is 97.
Technically we are still in the summer months, according to the Astronomical seasons, but the Meteorological autumn has begun.
Meteorological Autumn verses Astronomical Autumn
Officially in the Meteorological Autumn, but not the Astronomical Autumn, which doesn’t begin until September 22 at 4:43 am pacific time. The Meteorological Autumn is based temperatures and the calendar, with June, July and August being the three hottest months, therefore officially summer. December, January and February the three coldest months and therefore winter. The time in between them is spring and autumn. Astronomical seasons are based on the relationship of the Earth to the Sun using equinoxes and solstices as the defining moments from one season to the next.
Stay Safe
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