The National Weather Service offices in Medford, Pendleton and Boise issued Red Flag Warnings Saturday afternoon, warning of high fire potential over a combined area covering all Oregon counties east of the Cascade Mountains and most of SW Oregon.
Red Flag Warnings are in effect:
In Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, and Lake Counties – Red Flag Conditions in effect from 5:00am Sunday until 11:00pm Sunday PDT
In Malheur & Harney County – 3:00pm Mountain time Sunday until 6:00am Monday MDT
For all other central and eastern Oregon counties – 11:00am PDT Sunday until 11:00pm Monday
Thunderstorms are predicted in the region that will produce abundant dry lightning at first, with thunderstorms increasing in moisture levels later during the storm event. Additional storms may develop in the region again Monday.
Gusts of 20-40 mph are possible in central/eastern Oregon, and dry forest fuel levels may result in numerous lightning-started wildfires. A combination of low humidity, strong wind and warm temperatures create high potential for fire starts.
A Red Flag Warning is the highest fire forecast warning issued by the National Weather Service to warn of conditions that are ideal for wildland fire ignition and propagation. To the public, a Red Flag Warning means high fire danger with increased probability of a quickly spreading vegetation fire in the area within 24 hours.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry