Thunderstorms brought nearly 2,000 lightning strikes to parts of eastern Oregon after multiple areas across the state were under red flag warnings and fire weather watch on July 29.
Rebecca Muessle with the National Weather Service in Portland said there were few strikes in western Oregon, with a possible few strikes along the Cascades in Klamath and Douglas County.
The storms brought rain to the area, but not a significant amount. Eastern Oregon received 0.10 inch of wetting rain.
“What that means is that there is enough rain in that area to help saturate some of those fuels so that they're less reactive and less prone to lightning,” Muessle said.
Thunderstorms like these are common for this time of year, due to the low-pressure system over northern California that brings monsoonal moisture. When that adds to the warm temperatures in eastern and southeastern Oregon, thunderstorms form.
Here's the latest on red flag warnings, fire weather watches and wildfires burning around Oregon.
Red flag warnings and fire weather watches continue in parts of Oregon
Red flag warnings and fire weather watches for many parts of Oregon were set to continue July 30 and through July 31.
Affected red flag warning areas include:
Central mountains of Oregon: 1 p.m. July 30 - 11 a.m. July 31
Southern Deschutes National Forest: 1 p.m. July 30 - 11 a.m. July 31
Northern Willamette National Forest: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Southern Willamette National Forest: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Western Rogue Basin, including the Illinois Valley: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Siskiyou mountains: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Eastern Rogue Valley: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Southern Oregon Cascades: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Klamath Basin and the Fremont-Winema National Forest: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
South Central Oregon Desert, including Bureau of Land Management land in eastern Lake and western Harney counties: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Burns BLM: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Southern Grasslands: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Western Klamath National Forest: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Central Siskiyou County, including Shasta Valley: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Siskiyou County from the Cascade Mountains east and south to Mount Shasta: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Affected fire weather watch areas include:
Northern Willamette National Forest: 11 p.m. July 30 - 11 a.m. July 31
Southern Willamette National Forest: 11 p.m. July 30 - 11 a.m. July 31
Southern Oregon Cascades: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
Klamath Basin and the Fremont-Winema National Forest: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
South Central Oregon Desert, including BLM land in eastern Lake and western Harney counties: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. July 30
"Fire weather watches are issued when there is at least a 50% confidence that red flag conditions will occur," Muessle said. "Once that confidence rises to at least 80%, then we will issue the warning."
Wildfires burning in Malheur County
The Rock Creek Fire in Malheur County was reported the night of July 29 and has quickly spread to 8,000 acres.
The Lost Tom Fire between Baker and Malheur counties has burned 1,500 acres as of July 30.
The High Horn Fire has been remapped and has burned 85 acres as of July 30.
Cherry Fire burns 200 acres in Harney County
The Cherry Fire in Harney County, reported on July 29, has burned 200 acres.
Piper Lake Fire a full suppression effort in Lane County
As of July 29, USDA Forest Service firefighters were continuing full suppression efforts on the lightning-caused Piper Lake Fire in Lane County.
There was a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the area through the afternoon on July 30.
Burdoin Fire 72% contained in Columbia River Gorge
The Burdoin Fire on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge has burned 11,192 acres and was 72% contained as of July 30.
Burdoin Fire evacuation levels have not changed. Evacuation levels 1 and 2 are still in place.
Mariah Johnston is an outdoors journalism intern at the Statesman Journal. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Red flag and fire weather watches continue in Oregon
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