Rainy and cooler pattern expected to provide some relief for area firefighters and improve our air quality

There is a cool pocket of air expected to drop into the region overnight along with some rain.  The Pacific Northwest will be significantly cooler Wednesday after the trough drops in from the Gulf of Alaska.  Highs over the weekend were near 100° but will only reach the upper 50s to low 60s Wednesday.  The cooler air helps firefighters battle the dozens of new fires that were started last weekend by lightning strikes.

There will also be a likely chance for some solid wetting rain over the Cascades and east into the High Desert.  The rain will begin around sunrise over the crest of the Cascades and migrate east during the morning hours.  Unfortunately, there is also a good chance for some thunderstorms so we run the risk of more fire starts, but I believe the rain will do more good than harm. 

The byproduct of the rain will be the much cooler air, as discussed above.  Some cities, like La Pine, Sunriver and Sisters may see the mercury dip below freezing Friday morning, so start thinking about pulling some of the perishable plants in Thursday night.

Some more rain is expected late in the weekend or early next week. That round of rain may be spottier and more isolated. Over the weekend we should be feeling more like fall than the middle of the summer.

Stay Safe

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