Smoky skies and mild pattern remains

An Air Quality Alert has been issued for portions of Central Oregon, including Deschutes County due to the local fires in the region.  The area is dealing with a good deal of smoke that is coming from the Bachelor Complex and to some degree the new Pine Fire in Deschutes County.  The warm pattern over the past few days has allowed some hot spots in the currently burning fires to “smoke up” and consume more fuel. The Little Lava fire and the Young Grasshopper fires are actively producing smoke and with the southwest flow of air today, that should continue to push smoke over Bend, Sunriver and Redmond. 

The Rail Ridge fire is also expanding to the northwest as a hot spot there has gained some momentum. Smoke from that location is expected to blow NE away from the Tri-Counties. The smoke from the new Pine fire is also going to head NE, but that will take the smoke into Crook County and east of Prineville.  

As for the forecast, expect to see cooler conditions Wednesday as a weak cold front arrives from the north and west. This will be moisture starved and  will only give us cooler air, not rain.  The cooler pattern lingers around Thursday and we should be a few degrees cooler as clouds arrive. Again, not much chance for any rain, but the cooler weather will help with the fire fighting efforts. 

Friday through the weekend looks dry and mild with highs in the low to middle 70s and a mix of clouds and sunshine.  

Milton will make landfall Wednesday evening in on the west coast of Central Florida as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane.  The storm surge will be devastating for the region.

Stay Safe

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