Weather & Fuels

The National Preparedness Level dropped from PL5 to PL4 as cooler temperatures ease fire threat in the Pacific Northwest. But 78 large fires are still burning across 16 states with 17,812 firefighters deployed.

A frontal system is delivering cooler temperatures and scattered showers across the Pacific Northwest, reducing large fire potential — but dangerous fire weather continues across Wyoming, eastern Montana, and the Great Basin. Fire managers warn conditions could return later in September.

A significant weather shift is bringing cooler temperatures and showers to the Pacific Northwest, reducing large fire potential across Oregon, Washington, and western Idaho over the Labor Day weekend — a sharp contrast to the dangerous conditions that fueled record fire growth in August.

The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for parts of eastern Oregon and Washington, including a rare Particularly Dangerous Situation designation for the Spokane and Pendleton corridors. Southwest winds gusting to 35 mph combined with single-digit humidity create explosive fire growth potential.

A fuels and fire behavior advisory covers southwest Idaho and the Pacific Northwest as dry southwest winds drive relative humidity to 7–15% in parts of eastern Oregon, following a rare PDS Red Flag Warning that preceded the Spokane Area fires.

Fire weather advisories remain in effect for southeastern Oregon and southwest Idaho, with low relative humidity (10-20%) and locally gusty winds maintaining elevated fire risk. A weather pattern change could bring relief but also dry lightning threats.

Low humidity and breezy conditions persist across the Pacific Northwest as Labor Day weekend begins — and with September's historically dangerous fire weather still ahead, conditions remain critical.

Breezy southwest winds combining with relative humidity levels dropping into the critical 9-19% range are maintaining elevated fire danger across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho as the Labor Day weekend approaches. Red Flag Warnings have been in effect for portions of central Washington.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect across central Washington, northern Idaho, and portions of Oregon this weekend, with gusty winds, single-digit humidity, and critically dry fuels creating dangerous fire conditions. The Pacific Northwest remains under elevated to critical fire threat through Labor Day.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect for eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, and southwest Idaho, with wind gusts up to 40 mph, relative humidity in the single digits, and a dry lightning threat forecast for the Cascades.

NIFC forecasters warn of high-risk significant fire potential across the inland Pacific Northwest through end of August, with wind gusts of 25–35 mph, relative humidity as low as 10–20 percent, above-normal temperatures, and the threat of dry lightning across Idaho and western Montana.

Above-normal temperatures, critically low relative humidity, and locally gusty winds continue to support dangerous fire behavior across the eastern Cascades and Interior Northwest. Fire meteorologists warn that dry thunderstorms remain a new-ignition threat in central Idaho and southwest Montana through the week.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect across Oregon and Washington as temperatures return to 80–95°F with humidity dropping to 8–20%. NWCC warns dry lightning from passing thunderstorms could spark 3–5 new large fires this week.

Dry thunderstorms, gusty winds, and relative humidity in the single digits are maintaining elevated fire danger across the Pacific Northwest. New lightning-caused fires ignited across the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest over the weekend.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect across most of Oregon east of the Cascades on Saturday, August 23, as gusty winds, low humidity, and possible dry thunderstorms create critical fire weather conditions.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect Saturday for central Oregon with single-digit humidity and temperatures in the 90s-100s. An incoming cold front may bring gusty winds and lightning to the Cascades, threatening new fire starts.

The National Interagency Fire Center's August seasonal outlook calls for above-normal fire potential across the Northwest through month's end, while the National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings across portions of the region including the first “Particularly Dangerous Situation” designation seen in the Pacific Northwest since 2020.

A building high-pressure system is bringing warming temperatures, low humidity, and gusty winds back to fire-affected areas of the Pacific Northwest this week, threatening to reverse containment gains and increase fire activity across multiple large incidents.

A persistent pattern of heat, drought, and low humidity has created dangerous fire weather conditions across the Pacific Northwest. The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings repeatedly this month, and a 'Particularly Dangerous Situation' designation was recently triggered for parts of eastern Washington and Oregon.

Red Flag Warnings persist across eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Idaho as hot, dry, and windy fire weather continues. Earlier this month the region received its second-ever PDS Red Flag Warning, with gusts topping 55 mph. Campfire restrictions are in effect across all federal lands.