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 >

September featured pretty widespread warmer than average temperatures and below average rainfall. Few records were broken this month, though a record high low temperature was set at Brainerd and a couple daily rainfall records were set. The warm and dry conditions have resulted in expanded drought conditions, with pockets of moderate to extreme drought across portions of northwest Wisconsin along the South Shore, inching into Carlton and Pine counties. Abnormally dry conditions have spread into parts of northeast Minnesota as well. Many rivers and streams are running below normal across northwest Wisconsin.

Above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation are likely to persist across the region through October, as is forecasted by the Climate Prediction Center. Chances are equal for above or below normal temperatures and precipitation through December. Areas that are currently experiencing drought will likely see conditions persist for the foreseeable future.