Northwest: Fire Danger and Less Rain

news image
Top Stories
8 Aug 2023 1:00 AM

We have seen months of smokey skies in the U.S. but it hasn't been from fires here, mostly in Canada. In fact, we've had one of our slowest starts to fire season in the U.S. in the last 10 years (above). However, as is typical, the heat and dry time in the Pacific Northwest is contributing to fire danger. There has been an increase in active fires over the last couple of weeks in Oregon, Montana, and Idaho.

Smoke is not expected to be as thick as we head through Tuesday thanks to Monday's rainfall.

More moisture is being shoved into the Pacific Northwest around an area of low pressure, and the best rain chances many have seen in a month or so are on the way through the next few days.

With that rainfall, flooding will be possible. Excessive Rainfall Risks are in place overnight.

Over the next couple of days, rain chances slow down for the Rocky Mountain States. We may see a bit of rain Tuesday in the Pacific Northwest and a few storms in Montana but nothing to really bust the drought for these locations.

In spots where rain falls, half an inch to an inch of rain is possible over a short period of time. The rain is likely to produce runoff that could lead to flooding as the soils act like concrete since it's been so long since there was a drenching rain.

For more info on the wildfires in the West, tune into WeatherNation at :50 past the hour.

All Weather News
More
Tropical Storm Lorenzo Spinning In the Atlantic

Tropical Storm Lorenzo Spinning In the Atlantic

The 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season has thus f

15 Oct 2025 5:15 PM
Another Round of Snow for the Rockies and Tetons

Another Round of Snow for the Rockies and Tetons

NORTHWEST - Winter weather advisories have be

15 Oct 2025 5:10 PM
Ridge Riding Thunderstorms in the Western Plains

Ridge Riding Thunderstorms in the Western Plains

A ridge of high pressure has been responsible

15 Oct 2025 5:05 PM
Next Wave in the Atlantic to Watch

Next Wave in the Atlantic to Watch

The Atlantic hurricane season has been a rela

15 Oct 2025 4:46 PM
Strong Fall Front Fires Up Severe Chances This Weekend

Strong Fall Front Fires Up Severe Chances This Weekend

We've been locked in a relatively quiet stret

15 Oct 2025 3:48 PM
Sierra to the Rockies: Flooding Rain & Heavy Snow

Sierra to the Rockies: Flooding Rain & Heavy Snow

As of Wednesday, all evacuation orders have b

15 Oct 2025 1:45 PM
October Nor'easter Wrapping Up For the Atlantic

October Nor'easter Wrapping Up For the Atlantic

A low-pressure system that has tracked up the

14 Oct 2025 1:25 PM