Weather & Fuels

Federal forecasters project above-normal fire potential for the Pacific Northwest through summer 2026, with soil moisture declining rapidly and temperatures expected to run above average from May through August. The season is already tracking well ahead of historical averages nationally.

Forecasters warn 2026 is shaping up as a high-risk wildfire season for the Pacific Northwest, with below-average snowpack, intensifying drought east of the Cascades, and fire restrictions already in place weeks ahead of schedule.

Stage 1 fire restrictions and ODF Regulated Use Closures are now in effect across Central Oregon's Deschutes National Forest and surrounding public lands as of May 18, 2026 — campfires banned in dispersed areas ahead of a busy Memorial Day weekend.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect across much of the West as low humidity, gusty winds, and above-normal temperatures create critical fire weather conditions. The Pacific Northwest faces a prolonged period of elevated fire danger through the summer months.

Record-low snowpack, a statewide drought declaration in Washington, and persistent dry conditions are setting the stage for what forecasters are calling a potentially severe 2026 wildfire season across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

The BLM implemented fire restrictions on all Oregon and Washington public lands effective May 14, banning fireworks, exploding targets, and incendiary ammunition ahead of what forecasters warn could be a severe fire season.

Stage 1 fire restrictions banning campfires on most public lands took effect May 18 across the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland, and Prineville BLM District.

Starting May 14, the BLM and U.S. Wildland Fire Service banned fireworks, steel ammunition, and incendiary devices on all BLM lands in Oregon and Washington. Some areas face full campfire prohibitions. Violations carry fines up to $100,000 and personal liability for suppression costs.

The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Wildland Fire Service have enacted fire prevention orders across all BLM-administered lands in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, citing extreme drought conditions and the potential for a record-breaking fire year.

Light showers in western Washington offer brief relief, but fire meteorologists warn that eastern-side fuels are already approaching early-season receptivity — setting the stage for a potentially active June across the Pacific Northwest.

Washington declared a statewide drought in April, and snowpack has melted out a month early. Fire managers warn 2026 could be one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent history — with conditions already drying fast.

Below-normal precipitation, above-normal temperatures, and record-early snowmelt are setting the Pacific Northwest up for an early and potentially extreme fire season. The Climate Prediction Center forecasts the dry pattern to persist through June.

NIFC's seasonal outlook projects above-normal wildfire potential east of the Cascades starting in June, expanding to southwest Oregon by July. Record-low snowpack, drought, and an El Niño pattern are the key drivers.

The BLM and U.S. Wildland Fire Service activated fire restrictions today on all BLM-administered lands in Oregon and Washington, citing record-low snowpack, expanding drought, and forecasts for an extreme fire season.

Red Flag Warning conditions are affecting the Oregon Coast Range, Columbia River Gorge, and adjacent zones this week, with northeast winds gusting to 40 mph and relative humidity dropping as low as 15% — conditions that can cause fires to spread rapidly.

Fire managers and climate forecasters warn that 2026 could be one of the most severe wildfire seasons on record in the Pacific Northwest, with NIFC projecting above-normal fire potential for Oregon, Washington, and Idaho as drought deepens and snowpack remains critically low.

A Red Flag Warning covers the South Central Cascades of eastern Washington on Wednesday as dry thunderstorms with abundant lightning threaten to spark rapid-spread fires across moisture-depleted terrain.

Record low snowpack, historic heat, and a potential early El Nino are setting the stage for one of Oregon's most severe wildfire seasons on record, with above-normal risk expected across the region from June through October.

Red Flag Warnings, dry thunderstorms, and critically low humidity are raising fire weather concerns across Oregon and Washington as the 2026 fire season ramps up ahead of schedule.

Below-average snowpack, persistent drought, and a warm spring are setting the stage for an above-normal wildfire season across the Pacific Northwest — and fire managers say conditions for significant fire already exist.