Weather

Friday July 31

 The end of another miserable heat event in the PNW will 

arrive next week. Until then, wilting people, plants, fire concerns.

 For patrons in southern Oregon, fire concerns have been justified. 

Yesterday a fire - which literally took on the "form of a thunderstorm, 

causing numerous cloud-to-ground lightning strikes and hundreds 

of in-cloud rumbles" - started early in the afternoon and grew to approx. 

6,000 acres (report by BTL, NWS Medford office). Triple digit & 90+ 

degree heat to continue today and Saturday for much of the PNW, 

cooling slightly from the north as the weekend unfolds. Mid-level 

moisture from the south will move into the area, setting off fire risk 

thunderstorms and adding to the misery because of the humidity.

 Next week begins the comforting cool-down. Cooler air from the 

west will move onshore, as will the prevailing breezes.

 -Rufus