What’s happening
High temperatures are in the forecast along the Interstate 5 corridor, the Willamette Valley and in Central and Eastern Oregon. More than a quarter million acres across multiple counties in Eastern Oregon are ablaze with wildfires, and that could mean smoke and haze, especially in Central and northeastern Oregon.
Hot weather persists
The National Weather Service is anticipating a hot weekend across much of Oregon and Southwest Washington. The agency on Friday issued a heat advisory along the Interstate 5 corridor from Battle Ground, Washington to Cottage Grove, Oregon from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. Temperatures could reach the mid-90s.
From central Oregon east towards Burns a heat advisory is in place from 11 a.m. Saturday to 11 p.m. Monday. Harney County could see temperatures over 100 degrees over the weekend.
From The Dalles to the Idaho border, much of northeastern Oregon will be under an excessive heat warning, the NWS’ highest warning for hot temperatures, from 11 a.m. Saturday to 10 p.m. Monday.
Widespread haze is also expected in northeastern Oregon, with a fire watch through the weekend as well. Within the footprint of the excessive heat warning are the Lone Rock and Cow Valley fires.
Crews battle multiple fires
Heat and extremely dry conditions have created tinderbox conditions east of the Oregon Cascades, where human actions have contributed to the start of the Larch Creek, Cow Valley and Falls fires. The Bureau of Land Management is offering a reward for information about the human causes of the Cow Valley and other smaller fires in the Malheur Reservoir area. Hundreds of people were at work battling multiple blazes Friday morning. They gained ground in some areas, while wildfires elsewhere continued to grow.
Search and rescue crews went door to door in Ukiah, a community of fewer than 200 people in Eastern Oregon, Thursday night to assist with evacuations from the Pilot Rock Fire, which was still at 0% containment as of Friday morning, according to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office.
Approved ~ FS
Anothermike
Article URL : https://www.opb.org/article/2024/07/19/oregon-wildfires-burning-now-heat-weather-forecast/