Weather & Fuels

Red Flag Warnings have been issued across the Columbia Basin of Oregon and central Washington, while Central Oregon federal lands have reached EXTREME fire danger — the highest possible rating. A dominant high pressure ridge is keeping conditions hot, dry, and windy through the end of June.

A rebuilding high-pressure ridge is driving temperatures into the 90s and dropping relative humidity to single digits across parts of eastern Oregon, Washington, and Idaho this week.

Red Flag Warnings from the NWS Pendleton office are covering large portions of eastern Oregon and Washington, driven by winds, single-digit humidity, and extreme heat. The fire weather pattern is expected to persist.

Drought, early fire season, red flag warnings, and a developing El Niño are converging to create one of the most dangerous fire summers on record for the Pacific Northwest. NIFC forecasts above-normal fire potential through at least September.

The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for central Washington and Oregon for Saturday, June 20, as a dry cold front brings gusts to 30 mph and afternoon humidity values in the mid-teens — dangerous conditions atop an already active fire environment.

A cold front sweeping through the Pacific Northwest on June 16 produced the critical fire weather that sparked multiple large fires across eastern Washington and Oregon. Forecasters warn conditions will remain dangerous through the weekend.

Red flag warnings spanning Oregon, Washington, and Idaho this week have flagged dangerous combinations of gusty winds, low humidity, and extreme heat — conditions that have already driven explosive fire growth across the region.

Red Flag Warnings covered eastern Washington and northeast Oregon on June 16, with 45-50 mph gusts and humidity as low as 12% fueling critical fire weather. The Upriver Fire near Spokane validated the threat hours after the warning was issued.

The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning for central and eastern Washington and northeast Oregon through 11 PM Tuesday, citing high winds, gusts to 45 mph, and afternoon relative humidity as low as 19%.

Critical fire weather conditions — low humidity, gusty winds, and temperatures exceeding 100°F — are gripping the West this week. A dry lightning threat in the Southwest and deteriorating fuels east of the Cascades are raising alarm bells for the week ahead.

A heat advisory is in effect for the Pacific Northwest June 14–16, with Portland forecast near 100°F. The dangerous heat raises wildfire risk sharply, with red flag conditions possible east of the Cascades.

Federal fire forecasters have issued above-normal significant fire potential outlooks for the entire Northwest Geographic Area from July through September 2026, driven by below-normal snowpack, dry spring conditions, and a warming summer pattern.

NIFC's Predictive Services unit has flagged above-normal fire potential for the Northwest Geographic Area from July through September, as snowpack deficits, dry conditions, and early heat combine to create a challenging environment for fire managers in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

A significant mid-June heat dome is driving Red Flag Warnings for central Oregon fire weather zones, with dry thunderstorms and gusty winds forecast as a cold front approaches Friday.

A cold front approaching the PNW this weekend will drive breezy west winds and relative humidity as low as 10-20% across the Columbia Basin and eastern Oregon and Washington, creating elevated fire weather conditions.

A cold front approaching the Pacific Northwest this week will generate breezy west winds and relative humidity values of 10-20% across the Columbia Basin and eastern Cascades — conditions that support elevated fire weather risk. Land managers are monitoring active fires for wind-driven flare-ups.

The 2026 wildfire season is tracking nearly double the 10-year average for acres burned nationwide, and NIFC forecasts above-normal fire potential for the Pacific Northwest through the summer. Early fires in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho underscore the threat.

A cold front approaching the Pacific Northwest on Friday will generate elevated fire conditions as breezy west winds drop relative humidity to 10-20% from the Columbia Basin to the Sierra Front. Fire managers urge caution as fuel conditions remain critically dry across the region.

Federal fire forecasters warn that above-normal wildfire potential will encompass all of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and southwest Montana by August. Below-normal precipitation, deep drought, and accumulated fuels are creating conditions for a dangerous late summer.

A cold front arriving Friday will bring dangerous wind-driven fire weather to Idaho and eastern Oregon, while long-range models point to a potentially significant mid-June heat dome centered over Washington and Oregon.