WeatherNation Meteorologists

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SPOKANE, WA - On Saturday, August 1st, the Old Trails Fire ignited northwest of Spokane. This fire was fueled by hot, dry conditions and wind gusts up to 45 mph, which helped the fire spread rapidly through grass and brush before reaching neighborhoods. The fire eventually crossed the Spokane River, creating additional challenges for firefighters.UPDATE: The cause still remains under investigation, but a convicted felon has been arrested on an arson charge as the primary suspect for starting the Old Trails Fire near Spokane.<h3>Impacts:</h3><ul><li>The Spokane Area fires, consisting of the Autumn Lane, Old Trails, and Fairview fires, have burned 10,546 acres</li><li>Containment: Autumn Lane 13%, Old Trails 13%, and Fairview 5%</li><li>Thousands of residents remain under evacuation orders</li><li>Approximately 800+ structures have been destroyed, and thousands more are threatened</li></ul><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2084640508320854421" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2084640508320854421"></div>The Governor of Washington, Bob Ferguson, has declared a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://governor.wa.gov/news/2026/governor-ferguson-declares-statewide-wildfire-emergency-issues-statewide-burn-ban">statewide wildfire emergency</a>, including a statewide burn ban due to the current drought conditions, high temperatures, and high winds. The President has also approved an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20260804/president-donald-j-trump-approves-emergency-declaration-washington">emergency declaration</a> for Washington, providing federal disaster assistance to supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting in these wildfires.<h2>Forecast Ahead</h2>Forecast winds are expected to ease through tonight, but active fire behavior will likely continue in these areas. Red Flag Warnings are in place for portions of the Northwest and Northern Four Corners.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-05 140811-1785960497695.png">Residents should have a go bag packed and an evacuation plan in place in case evacuation orders expand into their area. If your community is placed under an evacuation order, leave immediately and follow instructions from local emergency officials.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-02 163825-1785710315388.png"><h2>Air Quality</h2>Smoke from the ongoing wildfires has prompted air quality alerts across much of the northwestern United States. People in affected areas should limit or avoid outdoor activities while poor air quality persists, especially those with respiratory conditions, older adults, and young children.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-05 140829-1785960515717.png">Forecast models indicate areas of dense smoke will spill southward. As temperatures cool after sunset, a temperature inversion often forms, trapping smoke close to the ground and leading to deteriorating air quality near the surface.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-05 083822-1785940713133.png">Residents should expect reduced visibility and degraded air quality through Monday morning before seeing improvements.

Alana Cameron

Spokane Area Fires: Some Containment

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Taban Sharifi grew up in Southern California between Los Angeles and San Diego. She is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) with the American Meteorological Society (AMS). She has a B.S. in Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Environmental Sciences with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Go Bruins! While in school, Taban was a meteorology intern with NBC LA. There she helped forecast daily weather for the greater Los Angeles region and created a playbook to deploy weather sensors for NBC owned-and-operated stations across the country. Her first on-air job took her to San Angelo, Texas, where she was a morning meteorologist and co-anchor. Working in West Texas gave her knowledge and experience covering severe storms. From there, she moved to Palm Springs, California. People think forecasting in California is sunshine all the time, but with temperatures in the 120’s, wildfires, damaging winds, floodings, and earthquakes, the forecasting kept her very busy! She also worked there as a general assignment reporter and told community stories. Taban is excited for the challenge and opportunity to forecast nationally with WeatherNation. She also looks forward to exploring all that Colorado has to offer!

Taban Sharifi

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A large area of high pressure continues to bring the heat across the United States. Extreme heat warnings and heat advisories are in effect across the western U.S., with some extending into Oklahoma and Arkansas through Thursday. Find ways to stay cool and stay out of the sunshine.HEAT RISKSIn addition to the heat alerts, the Heat Risk is up to major to extreme levels, especially across the southwest. This means that the heat will be dangerous for everyone, even if you're used to the desert heat.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-05 113312-1785951520455.png"><h1>Southwest</h1>Temperatures for Los Angeles will climb into the 90s, with Las Vegas climbing into the 110s. Normally this region is known for hot and dry conditions, but with monsoonal moisture in the area, the heat index values will be abnormally high!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-05 113453-1785951625929.png"><h1>Northwest</h1>Temperatures across the interior Northwest will spike over the next few days as well, with heat alerts issued for Wyoming and Montana. Smoke from nearby wildfires is expected to filter some sunshine out and curb temperatures by a degree or two, but won't keep some from threatening the century mark again.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/1-1785959826607.png">These temperatures across the northwest will also affect firefighter efforts to get wildfires in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho under control. More on the fires burning in the northwest: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/pacific-northwest-fires-bringing-down-the-air-quality">Spokane Complex Fire Continues to Burn</a>.For everyone across the country dealing with the intense heat, practice heat safety, take frequent breaks, and stay hydrated as best as you can in the days to come. The longer-range outlook for temperatures from August 11 - 15 has higher confidence that temperatures will remain above average.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/1-1785959879425.png">More on your Western Regional Forecast can be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Jesse Kelley

Western U.S. Under More Heat Alerts

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Alana Cameron was born and raised in Canada in the city of Mississauga, just outside of Toronto. Alana is the oldest of 4 siblings, all close in age, and grew up playing outside with them in all types of weather. After graduating high school, Alana moved to study at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna for a year before transferring to Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Atmospheric Science. Upon completion, Alana moved back to Toronto where she completed a post-grad degree in Meteorology at York University. After her post-grad, she went on to complete another post-grad in Broadcast Journalism - TV News at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. During her final year of studies she had the privilege of interning with the best in the business in Canada at The Weather Network. Once she finished her internship, she got the call from small-town Denison, Texas where she accepted a job as an on-air meteorologist at KTEN-TV, right in tornado alley, covering severe weather from Sherman/Denison (North Texas) to Ada (Southern Oklahoma). After the most active tornado season Oklahoma had seen in May 2019 (105 tornadoes!) Alana is excited to join WeatherNation to cover weather all across the nation. If you're interested in following her on social media she can be found @alanacameronwx!

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NORTHEAST - This summer has brought many rainy days to the northeast U.S. Flooding has been one of our biggest weather headlines in these areas, and with more rain and storm chances in the forecast ahead, flooding will remain an ongoing issue.An upper level low from the southeast will get pulled up to the northeast over the next day or so (above). With this and a new front moving in by the end of the week, we could see some severe storms. But first, as this low brings southerly winds and Gulf moisture and the warm front warms up temperatures, heat advisories have been issued for cities including Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-05 143315-1785962344440.png">As the next front runs into this heat and humidity, it brings the chance for strong to severe thunderstorms. There is a MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe weather here for Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-05 143322-1785962533132.png">The timing of these storms brings more isolated activity through Wednesday night and into Thursday but the main front looks to start pushing in Thursday and Friday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/08-05 east-1785962568796.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rainfall totals don't appear off the charts, but with already saturated grounds, the flooding risk is certainly here.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-05 143432-1785962594639.png">For more on this and any flood or severe alerts in your area, be sure to join us on WeatherNation for the latest.

Another Round of Storms for the Northeast

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Kevin Schneider

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Storms packed quite the punch on Monday night in the southern part of Arizona and New Mexico! Multiple dust storm warnings were reported. The most notable being in Phoenix, as a haboob was caught on camera rolling through!<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2084753745464938624" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2084753745464938624"></div>And for good reason! Check out some of the highest wind gusts that were recorded Monday night:<ul><li>Willcox, AZ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 88 mph</li><li>Tucson, AZ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 71 mph</li><li>Nogales, AZ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 66 mph</li><li>San Simon, AZ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 64 mph</li><li>Douglas, AZ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 62 mph</li></ul>As those storms fell apart, the outflow of winds from their collapse kicked up a dust storm...<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-04 103009-1785861039399.png">In fact, more windy storms are possible on Wednesday. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe weather. Damaging winds will, once again, be the main concern.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/1-1785959971279.png">The best time for storms to develop will be in the afternoon with daytime heating.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/BARON 5-1785960334810.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>During Monsoon season, haboobs are possible with just about any thunderstorm. It's important to remember what to do if you get caught in one in your car:<ul><li>pull off the road</li><li>keep your seatbelt on</li><li>turn your lights off and take your foot off the brake</li></ul>

Haboob Blows Through Phoenix; More Possible

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Temperatures are feeling cooler across the plains today! Enjoy it...because it won't last long. Temperatures will begin to warm up again, and a few storms remain possible today.The Storm Prediction Center has issued a MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe thunderstorms along the front across Missouri, central Illinois and southern Iowa (above). All threats look possible, including Isolated tornadoes will be for portions of Illinois and Missouri.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-05 134145-1785959932217.png">Through tonight and into the overnight hours the frontal boundary moving through these areas will be supporting the risk for strong to severe thunderstorms. Our models also show some of the activity actually picking up overnight so be prepared to receive severe weather alerts as you head to sleep tonight.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/08-05 HRRR TODAY-1785959937395.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Another threat to keep an eye on is the flooding threat. This front isn't going to be in a hurry, so as it walks southward, it will focus a few rounds of storms somewhere. Right now, that looks to take aim at Iowa and northern Missouri.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-05 135916-1785959963814.png">Flood Watches are in effect for the potential of heavy rain and flooding.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-05 134150-1785959969409.png">More details on your Central Regional Forecast can always be found :30 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Another Round of Storms for the Northeast

Haboob Blows Through Phoenix; More Possible

Cold Front Brings Storms and Cool Down

Spokane Area Fires: Some Containment

Western U.S. Under More Heat Alerts

Another Round of Storms for the Northeast

Haboob Blows Through Phoenix; More Possible

Cold Front Brings Storms and Cool Down

Spokane Area Fires: Some Containment

Western U.S. Under More Heat Alerts

Another Round of Storms for the Northeast

Haboob Blows Through Phoenix; More Possible

Cold Front Brings Storms and Cool Down