Pacific Northwest weather forecast warns of heat, wildfire risk

Heat is expected to increase Sunday in central and eastern Oregon and Washington, meteorologists said. Worryingly, temperatures are not expected to drop significantly overnight in some areas.

Residents of the Pacific Northwest are facing a dire situation.smoky and hot” is expected this weekend, thanks to temperatures above 30 degrees and raging forest fires.

On Saturday, extreme heat warnings were in effect in western Washington and Oregon, as well as Southern California and parts of Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and Montana.

At the same time, much of the region has been in critical wildfire risk for the entire weekend, with multiple fires currently burning in Oregon.

The Falls Fire, about 200 miles southeast of Portland, has burned 117,000 acres and is only 10% contained, according to the federal interagency fire system. About 75 miles north of the Falls Fire, the Lone Rock Fire has burned nearly 84,000 acres and is 40% contained.

The National Interagency Fire Center reported Saturday that dozens of large wildfires are raging in 11 states, mostly in the West. Oregon reports the most acres burned, followed by California. Among the fires there: two in Sequoia National Forest that have burned more than 20,000 acres.

The heat will increase Sunday in central and eastern Oregon and Washington, meteorologists said. Temperatures could reach 110 degrees in parts of Washington, said Brandon Lawhorn, chief meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Pendleton office in eastern Oregon.

Worryingly, temperatures are not expected to drop significantly at night in some areas, posing an additional risk of illness when people would normally get a break from the daytime heat.

Lawhorn told USA TODAY that the persistent daytime and nighttime temperatures “can certainly put a strain on the body if you’re not getting enough cooling.” The persistent high temperatures, he added, can also put a strain on the power grid as people turn on their air conditioners at night to stay cool.

The elderly, young children, people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, or people taking certain medications may have difficulty regulating their body temperature and staying cool.

The Pacific Northwest isn’t known for its sweltering temperatures. Many homes closer to the coast don’t have air conditioning, but Oregon, the Portland metropolitan area and the wine-producing Willamette Valley were under heat warnings Saturday.

A warming climate has changed the region’s summers. In 2021, a weeks-long heat dome with record temperatures over the region killed more than 250 people, many of whom were elderly, lived alone and lacked air conditioning. As the planet continues to warm, federal officials say more extreme weather events like the 2021 heat dome are expected.

Lawhorn, of the NWS, encouraged people to know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. In addition, he said, people should limit their time outdoors in the sun, drink plenty of fluids and seek shade when they are outside. They should also be aware of neighbors who are at greater risk for heat illness. People should not leave their children or pets in the car, even if the car is running.

Lawhorn said isolated thunderstorms are also likely, which could create new wildfire risks. Under those conditions, he said, the fires “could easily get out of control.”

People should pay attention to warnings about fires in their area. Here are steps to prepare:

If people live in mountainous areas where the risk of forest fires is high, they should have their bag ready in case the fires come their way.
Avoid breathing toxic smoke from wildfires: limit outdoor activities and keep your children indoors.
People should take precautions when outdoors, such as avoiding strenuous exercise.