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5 clusters · 11 sources · 23 days · First seen · Last updated

Oregon and Washington wildfire risk and smoke advisory

Overview

In late July 2026, the National Weather Service in Medford placed southern Oregon under a Fire Weather Watch and later issued a Red Flag Warning for Lake, Klamath, Jackson and eastern Modoc counties, citing dry lightning and strong outflow winds. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) repeatedly extended an air-quality advisory covering more than ten counties as wildfire smoke kept AQI in unhealthy to hazardous ranges.

On July 30, the NWS office in Pendleton upgraded the watch to a Particular Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning for large parts of Oregon and Washington, including the Kittitas Valley, Lower Columbia Basin, and Northern Blue Mountains. Conditions included west winds of 20–30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph and humidity as low as 15 percent.

By early August, the smoke plume expanded. On August 6, DEQ issued an advisory for 16 counties—including Baker, Crook, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Klamath, Malheur, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco and Wheeler—adding an ozone-smog warning for the Portland metro area, Salem and Hermiston. The U.S. Forest Service reduced some temporary closures in the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests near the Salmon and Olive Butte Fires, though modified closures remained for safety.

By August 12, easterly winds drifted smoke into western Oregon and southwest Washington, though forecasters expected westerly winds to clear the air by Friday. In Eastern Oregon, DEQ extended air quality advisories for several counties through at least Friday afternoon. Additionally, a Red Flag Warning was issued for Baker Valley due to potential lightning ignitions from monsoon moisture, posing a risk for new fire starts despite predicted scattered thunderstorms.

Entities

Washington · Oregon · Oregon Department of Environmental Quality · Salmon Fire · Baker County

Timeline

  1. 6 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Wildfire smoke and lightning risks impact Oregon and Washington

    Wildfire smoke is moving into western Oregon and Washington, while Eastern Oregon faces extended air quality advisories and red flag warnings due to potential lightning from thunderstorms.

  2. 12 days ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Oregon Wildfires Prompt Air Quality Advisory and Forest Closures

    Oregon wildfires have led to a multi‑county air‑quality advisory and modified forest‑closure restrictions around the Salmon and Olive Butte Fires.

  3. 20 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Oregon and Washington Red Flag Warning Issued for Saturday

    A Red Flag Warning covering multiple zones in Oregon and Washington warns of strong winds, low humidity and rapid fire spread on Saturday, urging residents to avoid outdoor burning.

  4. 27 days ago

    [HEALTH] 3 sources
    Oregon extends wildfire smoke advisory as air quality worsens

    Oregon DEQ extended a smoke advisory across 10 counties; officials warn of varying AQI readings and advise staying indoors and using masks, while doctors see increased respiratory symptoms.

  5. 28 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    Fire Weather Watch and Red Flag Warning Issued for Southern Oregon

    Southern Oregon faces a Fire Weather Watch and Red Flag Warning as thunderstorms bring dry lightning, gusty winds and heightened wildfire risk; residents urged to limit outdoor activities and prepare for evacu

Sources

97rockonline.com · beachconnection.net · bendsource.com · blog.energytrust.org · countryherald.com · elkhornmediagroup.com · lagrandeobserver.com · medfordalert.com · oregonsmoke.org · troyrecord.com · waitsburgtimes.com

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history