Fire weather across the Pacific Northwest has reached critical levels this weekend, with Red Flag Warnings in effect across central and eastern Washington, portions of northeastern Oregon, and much of the Inland Northwest. A combination of extreme heat, low relative humidity, and gusty winds is creating dangerous fire conditions forecast to persist through the coming week.

Current Conditions

The National Weather Service is warning that above-normal temperatures are combining with breezy southwest-to-west winds of 12 to 22 miles per hour, with gusts reaching 30 mph in some areas. Afternoon relative humidity values are dropping to between 5 and 15 percent across the western Great Basin, northeastern California, the northern Rockies, and much of the Inland Northwest — conditions well below the critical thresholds that define extreme fire weather.

The National Interagency Fire Center noted on July 11 that “hot, dry and windy conditions are expected to elevate fire weather today across the western Great Basin, northeastern California, northern Rockies and much of the Inland Northwest,” and that extreme heat is continuing across the lower elevations of the Intermountain West and the Northern Great Plains.

Red Flag Warnings in the PNW

Red Flag Warnings have been issued for the central and eastern portions of Washington state, a region already grappling with the Chelan Hills Fire (15,000+ acres) and the B&O Fire (nearly 3,000 acres). FOX 13 Seattle reported that a Red Flag Warning is “increasing the risk of new flare-ups in the central and eastern portions of the state.”

In northeastern Oregon, the National Weather Service in Pendleton issued a Red Flag Warning for the northwest portion of Umatilla County, where the North Cayuse Fire continues to burn at nearly 5,000 acres. These warnings were in effect earlier in the week and conditions have remained similar heading into the weekend.

The Chelan Hills Fire reached 50 percent containment despite ongoing red flag conditions — a testament to the sustained effort of firefighting crews working in extremely difficult terrain and weather.

What Red Flag Conditions Mean for the Public

Red Flag Warnings are issued by the National Weather Service when weather conditions are conducive to the rapid spread of wildfires. During these warnings:

  • New fire starts can spread quickly and be difficult to control.
  • Outdoor burning is prohibited or severely restricted in most affected counties.
  • Campfires, even in designated fire rings, may be banned in national forests.
  • Vehicle sparks, fireworks, and even exhaust systems can easily ignite dry grass and brush.
  • Residents in fire-prone areas should be prepared to evacuate quickly if a fire starts nearby.

Looking Ahead

Meteorologists anticipate that the high-pressure system driving these conditions will persist through the middle of the coming week, keeping temperatures elevated and humidity critically low across the region. Isolated thunderstorms are possible in some areas, but the lightning risk in dry conditions could trigger additional fire starts without producing meaningful rainfall.

Residents across eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, and northern Idaho are urged to avoid all outdoor burning, report smoke immediately by calling 911, and sign up for local emergency alerts. For National Weather Service fire weather forecasts, visit weather.gov.