PDS Red Flag Warning Issued for Eastern Oregon and Washington as Dangerous Wind Event Arrives

The National Weather Service has issued a rare Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning for portions of eastern Oregon and central Washington as a powerful weather system moves through the region Saturday, August 1. The combination of strong winds, extreme heat, and critically low humidity is expected to produce the most dangerous fire weather conditions of the 2026 season.

What Is a PDS Red Flag Warning?

A Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning is the most severe fire weather designation used by the National Weather Service. It is reserved for situations where weather conditions are expected to be significantly worse than typical Red Flag criteria — situations where any new ignitions, or breakouts from existing fires, could grow rapidly and prove extremely difficult to control. These warnings are uncommon in the Pacific Northwest and their issuance signals that forecasters consider the threat to be extraordinary.

Wind and Weather Details

A major wind event developed across the Inland Northwest on Saturday, with strong westerly winds impacting the Northern Rockies and portions of the northern Great Basin. Forecasters warn of:

Widespread gusts of 35–50 mph across the region
Localized gusts exceeding 55 mph along foothills and through mountain passes
Minimum relative humidity dropping to 10–20% across the Inland Northwest
Temperatures 5–15 degrees above normal, generally reaching 85–95°F at lower elevations

A Wind Advisory is also in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday for the Blue Mountain foothills, the Eastern Columbia River Gorge, Lower Columbia Basin, Yakima Valley, and Simcoe Highlands. Winds of 25–35 mph with gusts to 55 mph are expected in these areas, creating hazardous driving conditions particularly for high-profile vehicles.

Areas Under Red Flag Warning

The Red Flag Warning covers a broad swath of fire-prone terrain, including:

East slopes of Mt. Hood National Forest
Central and southeastern Washington
North-central Oregon
Northeast Oregon (including areas already under extreme fire pressure)
Southeast Oregon (under Fire Weather Watch)

Threat to Active Fires

The timing of this wind event is particularly concerning given the record number of active large fires across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Meteorologists warn that winds this strong on fires that already have vast uncontrolled perimeters could drive massive runs through unburned fuels, threaten established containment lines, and endanger firefighter safety. Multiple Incident Management Teams have been notified and are adjusting tactics to protect crews in advance of the worst conditions.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) highlighted critical to extreme fire weather conditions across central and southeastern Washington and northern Oregon as the primary area of concern Saturday afternoon.

Public Precautions

During a PDS Red Flag Warning, officials urge the public to: