The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Lightning on dry fuels will increase the risk of new
fire starts. Additionally, gusty outflow winds will allow for
new and existing fires to grow rapidly.
* AFFECTED AREA...In CAZ285...Eastern fire weather zone 285. In
ORZ625...Fire weather zone 625.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms with very
little to no precipitation. Lightning strikes outside of
precipitation cores are possible.
* OUTFLOW WINDS...50 to 60 mph.
* DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at
https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr
...RED FLAG WARNING FOR WEDNESDAY AFT/EVE FOR LIGHTNING...
.A cold front, along with plenty of moisture and upper level
energy, will allow for scattered to numerous thunderstorms
Wednesday afternoon and evening across the entire area. Wind
gusts 50-70 mph are possible. Winds behind the front will
become moderate (15-25 mph with higher gusts) across southeast
Oregon, adding to the concern. Storms will have wet cores with
wetting rain likely, but most areas will see lower amounts.
The National Weather Service in Boise has issued a Red Flag
Warning for lightning, which is in effect from noon MDT /11 AM
PDT/ Wednesday to midnight MDT /11 PM PDT/ Wednesday night.
* Thunderstorms...Scattered to numerous.
* Outflow Winds...50-70 mph possible.
* Timing...From noon MDT /11 AM PDT/ Wednesday to midnight MDT
/11 PM PDT/ Wednesday night.
* WHAT...High concentration of smoke particulates from wildfire
smoke.
* WHERE...Baker, Harney, and Malheur Counties.
* WHEN...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
* IMPACTS...Smoke can irritate the eyes, lungs and worsen some
medical conditions. People most at risk to adverse health effects
include infants, young children, people with heart or lung
disease, older adults, and pregnant women.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on
weather. Check current conditions on the Oregon Smoke Information
Blog, DEQ's Air Quality Index, or by downloading the free
OregonAIR app on your smartphone.
* WHAT...Temperatures up to 101.
* WHERE...Portions of south central and southwest Idaho and
northeast and southeast Oregon.
* WHEN...Until 9 PM MDT /8 PM PDT/ Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures up to 105.
* WHERE...Portions of southwest and west central Idaho and
southeast Oregon.
* WHEN...Until 9 PM MDT /8 PM PDT/ Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the
potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those
working or participating in outdoor activities.
* WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
* WHERE...Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington.
* WHEN...Until midnight PDT tonight.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
* WHAT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
* WHERE...Kittitas Valley.
* WHEN...Until midnight PDT tonight.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
* WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
* WHERE...Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington.
* WHEN...Until midnight PDT tonight.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air
Pollution Advisory...until at least Wednesday.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality
advisory for Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and eastern Douglas
counties due to numerous wildfires burning in the region.
DEQ also expected intermittent smoke in Lake County through at least
Wednesday due to smoke from the Diamond Complex Fire.
The wildfire smoke combined with forecast conditions will cause air
quality levels to fluctuate and could be at unhealthy levels.
Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on the weather. Smoke can
irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions.
People most at risk include infants and young children, people with
heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people.
People can take the following precautions to protect their health:
- Follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air
quality.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during periods of poor air quality.
- People with heart or lung problems and young children are
especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while smoke
levels are high.
- Use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in
indoor heating, ventilation, cooling and air purification systems.
- Avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke
if possible.
DEQs color-coded Air Quality Index provides current air quality
conditions and ranks air quality as follows: Green is good. Yellow is
moderate. Orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children,
the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory conditions.
Red is unhealthy for everyone. Purple is very unhealthy for all
groups. Maroon is hazardous.
For additional information...please visit the web site at
https://oregonsmoke.org
Strong onshore flow has led to west winds gusting 35 to 45 mph
this afternoon, which will continue into this evening. Locally
stronger gusts of up to 65 mph have been observed in the most
wind-prone locations. These winds will continue until about 8 PM,
then gradually ease after sunset.
Winds of this magnitude can blow around loose outdoor objects, so
it is a good idea to secure them if possible. Some tree limbs may
break, leading to isolated power outages this afternoon and
evening.
Strong onshore flow has led to west winds gusting 35 to 45 mph
this afternoon, which will continue into this evening. Locally
stronger gusts of up to 65 mph have been observed in the most
wind-prone locations. These winds will continue until about 8 PM,
then gradually ease after sunset.
Winds of this magnitude can blow around loose outdoor objects, so
it is a good idea to secure them if possible. Some tree limbs may
break, leading to isolated power outages this afternoon and
evening.
* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 696 East Washington Central
Cascades (Zone 696), Fire Weather Zone 697 East Portion of
North Cascades National Park/Lake Chelan National Recreation
Area (Zone 697), Fire Weather Zone 698 East Washington North
Cascades (Zone 698), Fire Weather Zone 704 Methow Valley (Zone
704) and Fire Weather Zone 705 Foothills of Central Washington
Cascades (Zone 705).
* Winds: West 15 to 20 mph with gusts of 30 mph or more. Be
prepared for the arrival of a dry cold front through the late
afternoon.
* Relative Humidities: 15 to 25 percent in the valleys and 25 to
35 percent over the higher terrain.
* Impacts: Rapid fire spread with any new or existing fires due to
gusty winds through the evening.
* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 703 Okanogan Valley (Zone
703).
* Winds: South 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
* Relative Humidities: 12 to 20 percent.
* Impacts: Rapid fire spread with any new or existing fires due to
gusty winds.
An Air Quality Alert has been issued by the following agencies:
Washington Department of Ecology
Colville Confederated Tribes
An Air Quality Alert, issued for all of Chelan County plus
the Methow Valley down to Brewster in Okanogan County as well as the
Colville Reservation will remain in effect until further notice, due
to expected smoke from the Pioneer Fire and other regional
wildfires. Particulate matter (PM2.5) may reach Unhealthy and
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups levels.
Health Impacts and Recommended Actions: When air quality is Unhealthy,
everyone should reduce exposure. Limit time outside, avoid strenuous
activity, and follow tips for cleaner indoor air. When air quality
is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, sensitive groups should take steps
to reduce exposure. Limit time outside, avoid strenuous outdoor
activity, and follow tips for cleaner indoor air. Everyone should
watch for symptoms as a sign to reduce exposure.
Agricultural and outdoor burning restrictions are in effect.
At 216 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles southeast of Imnaha, or 26 miles east of Enterprise, moving
east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of east central
Wallowa County.
At 155 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Dooley Summit, or 15 miles south of Baker City, moving northeast at
30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This strong thunderstorm will be near... Northern portions of the
Durkee Fire near 205 PM PDT
Pleasant Valley around 210 PM PDT.
Love Reservoir around 230 PM PDT.
...ABUNDANT LIGHTNING WITH STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS THIS AFTERNOON...
* Thunderstorms...Scattered thunderstorms, especially near the
Nevada border.
* Outflow Winds...Outflow winds around 45-55 mph could extend far
from the base of the storm near Durkee-Cow Valley-Falls Fires.
* Timing...Until midnight MDT /11 PM PDT/ tonight.
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures 104 to 108
at low elevations.
* WHERE...Portions of southwest and west central Idaho and
southeast Oregon.
* WHEN...Until 9 PM MDT /8 PM PDT/ Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the
potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those
working or participating in outdoor activities.
* WHAT...Temperatures 100 to 103 in lowest elevations.
* WHERE...Portions of south central and southwest Idaho and
northeast and southeast Oregon.
* WHEN...Until 9 PM MDT /8 PM PDT/ Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air
Pollution Advisory...until at least Wednesday.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality
advisory for Klamath and eastern Douglas counties due to numerous
wildfires burning in the region.
DEQ also expected intermittent smoke in Jackson, Josephine, and
northern Lake County through at least Wednesday due to smoke from the
Diamond Complex Fire.
The wildfire smoke combined with forecast conditions will cause air
quality levels to fluctuate and could be at unhealthy levels.
Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on the weather. Smoke can
irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions.
People most at risk include infants and young children, people with
heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people.
People can take the following precautions to protect their health:
- Follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air
quality.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during periods of poor air quality.
- People with heart or lung problems and young children are
especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while smoke
levels are high.
- Use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in
indoor heating, ventilation, cooling and air purification systems.
- Avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke
if possible.
DEQs color-coded Air Quality Index provides current air quality
conditions and ranks air quality as follows: Green is good. Yellow is
moderate. Orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children,
the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory conditions.
Red is unhealthy for everyone. Purple is very unhealthy for all
groups. Maroon is hazardous.
For additional information...please visit the web site at
https://oregonsmoke.org