A Red Flag Warning is in effect today, Saturday, August 22, for portions of the Pacific Northwest, as a persistent high-pressure system continues to drive temperatures well above normal and relative humidity to dangerously low levels across inland areas. Fire weather forecasters say conditions are among the most extreme of the 2026 season, with any new ignitions carrying the potential for rapid and dangerous spread.
Today's Red Flag Warning
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for central Oregon from noon until 10 p.m. Saturday, with wind gusts expected in the 10 to 20 mph range, temperatures in the 90s to low 100s, and afternoon relative humidity falling into the single digits in the driest locations. Fire weather forecasters note that while winds will be on the lower end of the Red Flag threshold, the combination of extreme heat, critically dry fuels, and very low humidity is sufficient to generate extreme fire behavior on any new ignition.
In the Cascades and Olympics, a Fire Weather Watch remains in effect due to the added threat of dry lightning from convective activity. Thunderstorms moving through the Cascade mountain range over the weekend can bring lightning to dry fuels while producing little or no rainfall — a combination historically responsible for many of the Pacific Northwest's most destructive fire starts.
The Heat Setup
A strong high-pressure dome centered over the western United States is the primary driver of the extreme conditions. NIFC's National Fire Weather Outlook describes the pattern as producing temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal across inland portions of the Pacific Northwest, with highs in the 90s to lower 100s widespread. Poor overnight humidity recoveries — meaning relative humidity does not climb high enough overnight for fuels to rehydrate — means each successive day begins with drier, more receptive fuels than the day before.
This compounding effect is particularly dangerous for fire managers working to maintain containment on existing fires while standing ready for new ignitions.
Weekend Outlook
A cold front is expected to push into the region later Saturday into Sunday, potentially dropping temperatures by nearly 10 degrees. While the cooling trend is welcome, it comes with significant caveats: the frontal passage is expected to bring gusty, erratic winds that can push fire in unpredictable directions and rapidly increase rates of spread. Additionally, the front brings an elevated risk of lightning in the Cascades — potentially sparking new fires just as temperatures briefly moderate.
Fire managers on active incidents across Oregon and Washington have been briefed on the incoming front and are adjusting tactics accordingly, repositioning crews and equipment to protect structures and improve containment lines ahead of the wind event.
Burn Restrictions in Effect
Broad outdoor burn restrictions are in effect across much of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson's statewide burn ban runs through September 30. Oregon has campfire restrictions in place across most national forests and BLM lands, with burning prohibited in many county areas as well. Idaho has similar restrictions in place across the southern portion of the state.
Anyone operating equipment in or near dry vegetation, shooting firearms in grassy or brushy areas, or parking vehicles on dry grass should exercise extreme caution. Escaped campfires and equipment-related ignitions are among the most common human-caused fire starts during high-fire-danger periods.
Current Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches for the Pacific Northwest are updated continuously at the National Weather Service at weather.gov and the Northwest Coordination Center at gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc.