Wildfire danger to increase across the West this week
By
Maura Kelly, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Aug 29, 2020 5:35 PM EDT
To avoid inhaling wildfire smoke, be sure you’re wearing a mask that will protect you from breathing dangerous smoke and gases into your lungs.
As fire crews continue to battle numerous large wildfires across the western third of the United States, no additional help can be expected from Mother Nature as more dry weather and stifling heat are in the forecast for the region.
While a storm system that moved through the West to close out the weekend and the beginning of the week kept temperatures near normal, very little moisture associated with this system led to a high fire threat across the Northwest.
Gusty winds and low relative humidity levels created conditions that would allow any ongoing fires or new flames to spread quickly.
The storm system departed the area late Monday and made way for the next heat event for the West to begin. An area of high pressure is forecast to build over the region into the middle of the week. As the high settles in at midweek, temperatures are expected to trend higher.
"High temperatures across the region are expected to reach 6-12 degrees above normal for this time of year," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Nicole LoBiondo.
Excessive heat watches have been issued across the southwestern U.S. due to the extreme heat forecast to build over the holiday weekend.
"Sunday now looks the hottest, and so hot in fact that highs may approach all-time records," the National Weather Service said. "Nighttime temperatures will also warm up, only adding to the discomfort and serious health risk."
"This will also help to worsen drought conditions that have been building throughout the summer," LoBiondo said.
As air stagnates with high pressure over the region, air quality will deteriorate further throughout the week. Areas of extensive smoke, due to ongoing, large wildfires, will continue to envelope portions of the West.
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A storm system expected to track into the Northwest will act to increase winds, especially across this region. The fire danger with each passing storm will depend on how much precipitation the storm will bring.
Any rain from these storms may be too spotty to offer any relief from the drought conditions or aid fire crews battling the blazes across the region.
Fires have been setting records across the western third of the United States this season. Fires from California to Colorado have grown to some of the largest each state has recorded.
The SCU Lightning Complex and LNU Lightning Complex fires, both located in Central California, have each grown to over 375,000 acres burned each, falling short of the largest fire in California history set back in 2018.
Both fires are about 60% contained as of Monday afternoon, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
The fires burning across the state have claimed seven lives in recent weeks, according to The Associated Press. Nearly a quarter of a million people were placed under evacuation orders and warnings, the AP reported.
The fire near Grand Junction in Colorado grew to about 140,000 acres on Thursday, according to The Denver Post, making it the largest fire in state history. This surpassed the Hayman fire that burned near Denver in 2002.
"More than 900 firefighters have continued battling the fire since it first ignited by a lightning strike July 31, about 18 miles north of Grand Junction," reported the Associated Press.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Severe Weather
Wildfire danger to increase across the West this week
By Maura Kelly, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Aug 29, 2020 5:35 PM EDT
To avoid inhaling wildfire smoke, be sure you’re wearing a mask that will protect you from breathing dangerous smoke and gases into your lungs.
As fire crews continue to battle numerous large wildfires across the western third of the United States, no additional help can be expected from Mother Nature as more dry weather and stifling heat are in the forecast for the region.
While a storm system that moved through the West to close out the weekend and the beginning of the week kept temperatures near normal, very little moisture associated with this system led to a high fire threat across the Northwest.
Gusty winds and low relative humidity levels created conditions that would allow any ongoing fires or new flames to spread quickly.
The storm system departed the area late Monday and made way for the next heat event for the West to begin. An area of high pressure is forecast to build over the region into the middle of the week. As the high settles in at midweek, temperatures are expected to trend higher.
"High temperatures across the region are expected to reach 6-12 degrees above normal for this time of year," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Nicole LoBiondo.
Excessive heat watches have been issued across the southwestern U.S. due to the extreme heat forecast to build over the holiday weekend.
"Sunday now looks the hottest, and so hot in fact that highs may approach all-time records," the National Weather Service said. "Nighttime temperatures will also warm up, only adding to the discomfort and serious health risk."
"This will also help to worsen drought conditions that have been building throughout the summer," LoBiondo said.
As air stagnates with high pressure over the region, air quality will deteriorate further throughout the week. Areas of extensive smoke, due to ongoing, large wildfires, will continue to envelope portions of the West.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
A storm system expected to track into the Northwest will act to increase winds, especially across this region. The fire danger with each passing storm will depend on how much precipitation the storm will bring.
Any rain from these storms may be too spotty to offer any relief from the drought conditions or aid fire crews battling the blazes across the region.
Fires have been setting records across the western third of the United States this season. Fires from California to Colorado have grown to some of the largest each state has recorded.
The SCU Lightning Complex and LNU Lightning Complex fires, both located in Central California, have each grown to over 375,000 acres burned each, falling short of the largest fire in California history set back in 2018.
Both fires are about 60% contained as of Monday afternoon, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
The fires burning across the state have claimed seven lives in recent weeks, according to The Associated Press. Nearly a quarter of a million people were placed under evacuation orders and warnings, the AP reported.
The fire near Grand Junction in Colorado grew to about 140,000 acres on Thursday, according to The Denver Post, making it the largest fire in state history. This surpassed the Hayman fire that burned near Denver in 2002.
"More than 900 firefighters have continued battling the fire since it first ignited by a lightning strike July 31, about 18 miles north of Grand Junction," reported the Associated Press.
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Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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