Cooldown to Arrive in West as Fires Continue to Blaze

By Jordan Root, Meteorologist

September 14,2015; 11:02PM,EDT

 

 

After a week of relentless heat across the West, a much-needed cooldown is on the horizon.
A trough of low pressure is expected to dive into the western half of the United States this week sending a much-cooler air mass into the region, one that will drop high temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit in most places when compared to this past week.

A Pattern Change for the West Coast

While the weekend ended on a warm note, the majority of the West will experience some form of cooldown by the middle of this week.
"Cooler weather will spread south across the West through Tuesday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyson Hoegg said.

Folks in Seattle, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, Boise, Idaho, Missoula, Montana, Salt Lake City, and areas in between will all see a temperature drop between Monday and Wednesday.
"Cities along the I-5 corridor, such as Seattle, Portland, and Medford, Oregon, will see daytime highs similar to those of mid-October," Hoegg said.
RELATED:
Western U.S. Weather Blog
California Lawns Will Shrink in Size as State Faces Consequence of Slow Drought Response
PHOTOS: Valley Fire Grows Rapidly; Four Firefighters Injured
California, a state devastated with wildfires, will get some relief. Thermometers that read in the 100s across the Central Valley are expected to read in the lower 80s today, certainly a noticeable and welcome change.
Last week and this week will have quite the contrast in the West, with temperatures dipping below average for the first time since the beginning of September in some locations.
Exceptional drought and the recent stretch of scorching heat has caused problems, including turning California into a tinder box. Many fires are currently raging across the state, including the Butte Fire, which exploded in growth early on Friday, and the Valley Fire, which began on Saturday afternoon.
The Butte fire has burned more than 71,000 and the fire is only 30 percent contained as of Monday morning, according to the California government website.
Firefighters watch as the flames of the Butte Fire approach a containment line near San Andreas, Calif., Friday Sept. 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
A state of emergency was declared in Amador and Calaveras counties on Friday as thousands were forced to evacuate after the fire threatened and burned homes near the town of San Andreas. Over 200 buildings have already been destroyed by the fire as of Sunday night, Over 6,000 structures are threatened as nearly 500 fire engines and thousands of fire personnel battle the blaze.
The Valley Fire began on Saturday afternoon and had already burned 62,000 acres by Monday evening. Mandatory evacuations were in place for parts of Napa and Lake counties. This out-of-control fire has already burned the communities of Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake.
Four firefighters were sent to the hospital Saturday with second-degree burns, according to the Associated Press. One woman died on Saturday after her house was destroyed by fire in Lake County, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.
The fire is only 10 percent contained as of Monday evening.
A vehicle destroyed by the Butte Fire sits on tireless rims at a home in Mountain Ranch, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015. Firefighters gained some ground Saturday against the explosive wildfire that incinerated buildings and chased hundreds of people from mountain communities in drought-stricken Northern California. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
According to the USDA Forest Service, 40 large fires are currently burning across the West. Five states are dealing with these dangerous blazes and they include California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
The Rough Fire east of Fresno is threatening to sweep through an ancient grove of Giant Sequoia trees, according to the Associated Press. This lightning-caused fire is only at 36 percent containment as of late Sunday as firefighters rush to get it under control.
The drop in temperature this week will help firefighters battling the blaze in some ways, but also could hurt efforts in other ways. The unsettled weather may bring some rain to parts of the West, although thunderstorms could cause more wildfire problems due to lightning.
"Anytime a cold front pushes through the west during the fire season, problems ensue," AccuWeather Meteorologist and firefighter Evan Duffey said.
Duffey noted that cold fronts usually bring stronger and sometimes unpredictable winds that could rapidly spread fire, making it hard for incident managers to position teams.
Smoke can be seen over a large portion of the western United States on Friday. Image/NASA
The West needs the rain that is coming more than the cool temperatures, but there needs to be enough of it to overcome the impacts of the wind.
If it stays windy this week with only a shower, the net of the situation will be more negative than positive, said Duffey.
There should be enough moisture to produce at least some rain over the majority of the fires burning across the state of California.