Heat and Fire Weather Concerns in the West

Heat will build over the Intermountain West and the Southwest the next couple of days. Lightning from dry thunderstorms can create new fire starts and combined with gusty winds may cause a fire to rapidly grow in Oregon and northern California. Elevated fire weather conditions are also expected in the Great Basin. Flash flooding will be possible in Arizona and west Texas, especially in burn scars. Read More >

Temperatures were above average across the entire region this January, while precipitation and snowfall were variable across the region. For much of northeast Minnesota, particularly the Iron Range and areas north, precipitation was below average. Northwest Wisconsin and extending towards the Twin Ports, precipitation was above average. January 2023 was in some ways an opposite to December 2022, which saw below normal temperatures and nearly uniformly above average precipitation. Abnormally dry conditions previously present over northwest Wisconsin are no longer present for the most part.

The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting equal chances for above or below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation in the 1 to 3 month outlooks.