Fire weather conditions across the Pacific Northwest remain dangerous and are expected to stay above normal through the remainder of August, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) and National Weather Service forecasts. A combination of critically dry fuels, low relative humidity, and periodic high-wind events continues to drive extreme fire behavior across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

NIFC Seasonal Outlook

The NIFC's August 2026 monthly and seasonal fire weather outlook, issued August 1, identifies above-normal fire potential for the majority of the northwestern United States through the end of the month. The zone of elevated concern extends from central Utah, northwest Colorado, western Wyoming, and northwest Montana westward to the Pacific Coast — encompassing nearly all of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

The outlook cites below-normal precipitation combined with above-normal temperatures as the primary drivers, with fuels across the region described as critically dry following a warm, dry summer. Large portions of eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and southern Idaho are at or beyond typical fire season moisture deficits.

Red Flag Warnings and Particularly Dangerous Situation Events

The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings across multiple areas of the Pacific Northwest on multiple occasions this month, reflecting the combination of low relative humidity, dry fuels, and gusty winds required for rapid fire spread.

Most notably, the Pacific Northwest experienced its first “Particularly Dangerous Situation” (PDS) Red Flag Warning of the 2026 season and only the second since September 2020. The PDS designation was prompted by a dry cold front that generated wind gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour across large portions of eastern Washington and northeastern Oregon — creating what forecasters described as “extremely critical” fire risk.

During that event, multiple new large fires ignited and several existing fires made significant acreage gains in a matter of hours, demonstrating the explosive potential of current fuel and weather conditions.

Western Washington Also Impacted

Red Flag Warnings have also been issued for portions of western Washington, including west slopes of the North and Central Cascades above 1,500 feet elevation, during periods of low humidity and offshore wind flow. While western Washington typically has higher baseline moisture than eastern portions of the state, multi-week dry periods have drawn down fuel moisture to levels that support active fire spread even west of the Cascade crest.

Current Conditions and What to Watch

Key fire weather indicators to monitor across the Northwest include:

  • Relative humidity: Single-digit overnight low relative humidity has been recorded repeatedly this season in eastern Washington and Oregon, preventing meaningful overnight fuel moisture recovery.
  • Wind events: Dry cold fronts moving through the region generate the highest fire risk by combining gusty winds with low humidity. These events typically occur with 24-48 hours of forecaster lead time.
  • Lightning: Dry thunderstorm activity has sparked numerous new ignitions across Oregon and Idaho this month. Pyrocumulus clouds generated by large fires can also produce lightning.
  • Temperature: Daytime temperatures continue to run above normal across much of the interior Northwest, accelerating afternoon fuel drying.

Residents are encouraged to monitor National Weather Service forecasts at weather.gov and follow all campfire restrictions and public land use regulations in effect for their area. In much of eastern Oregon and Washington, campfires are currently prohibited on public lands due to extreme fire danger.