Weather & Fuels

Red Flag Warning conditions are affecting the Oregon Coast Range, Columbia River Gorge, and adjacent zones this week, with northeast winds gusting to 40 mph and relative humidity dropping as low as 15% — conditions that can cause fires to spread rapidly.

Fire managers and climate forecasters warn that 2026 could be one of the most severe wildfire seasons on record in the Pacific Northwest, with NIFC projecting above-normal fire potential for Oregon, Washington, and Idaho as drought deepens and snowpack remains critically low.

A Red Flag Warning covers the South Central Cascades of eastern Washington on Wednesday as dry thunderstorms with abundant lightning threaten to spark rapid-spread fires across moisture-depleted terrain.

Record low snowpack, historic heat, and a potential early El Nino are setting the stage for one of Oregon's most severe wildfire seasons on record, with above-normal risk expected across the region from June through October.

Red Flag Warnings, dry thunderstorms, and critically low humidity are raising fire weather concerns across Oregon and Washington as the 2026 fire season ramps up ahead of schedule.

Below-average snowpack, persistent drought, and a warm spring are setting the stage for an above-normal wildfire season across the Pacific Northwest — and fire managers say conditions for significant fire already exist.