Record-Challenging Heat to Surge Across Northwest US, Enhance Wildfire Risk

By Brett Rathbun, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

August 17,2015; 8:38PM,EDT

 

 

The next surge of heat will build into the Northwest this week and bring hazardous conditions to firefighters battling wildfires.
"An upper-level ridge currently positioned over Southern California will continue to build across the West Coast, allowing the heat to build northward into the Pacific Northwest," AccuWeather Meteorologist Josh Searles said.
Record highs will be challenged across the region, especially on Tuesday. Cities within reach of record-breaking heat include Seattle; Portland and Medford, Oregon; and Reno, Nevada.

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High temperatures on Monday will range from the lower 80s F across Seattle to the 90s F in the Willamette Valley.
By Tuesday, high temperatures will be in the upper 80s to lower 90s F across Washington state to the triple digits in the Willamette Valley.

This next surge of warmth will not be a major surprise to the residents across the Northwest. There have been a large number of days this year where high temperatures have been at least 90 F.
As of Aug. 16, Portland, Oregon, has had 24 days this year of high temperatures reaching at least 90 degrees F. This ties the previous record for the number of 90-plus degree days in a calendar year from 2009. With a high temperature approaching triple digits on Tuesday, this record will be broken.
Seattle has already broken its record of 90-plus degree days this year. The old record was nine days back in 1958.
Most 90+ F days this year (Through August 16, 2015)

City, State	Number of days	City, State	Number of days
Medford, Oregon	52 (16 days of 100+)	Boise, Idaho	41 (14 days of 100+)
Spokane, Washington	29	Missoula, Montana	24
Portland, Oregon	24	Eugene, Oregon	23
Salem, Oregon	23	Seattle, Washington	12

Anyone with outdoor activities early this week should remember to stay hydrated and wear light-colored clothing to reflect the sunlight from your body. Wear sunscreen to protect yourself from dangerous UV rays.
The best way to beat the heat is to head to the coastal beaches.
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National Forecast Maps
This heat will bring little relief to the ongoing wildfire season.
"The hot conditions will dry out fuels and increase ignition potential over the region, as well as increase the risk to firefighters of being overcome by heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration," AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Duffey said.
More than 6.5 million acres have burned so far this year as of Aug. 14, 2015. This is the most for any year to that date in the past 10 years, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Winds will generally be light and predictable as the heat persists, Duffey said.
This will allow firefighters to better contain these wildfires before they spread out of control.
According to the USDA Forest Service, most of the wildfires across the United States are located across the Northwest and northern California.
There will be a break in the heat by the end of the week as a shot of cooler but seasonable air will move into the Pacific Northwest. However, no widespread areas of precipitation are expected over the next week.