Weather Alert in Oregon

Recent Locations: Dufur, OR Seattle, WA

Red Flag Warning issued July 29 at 3:29PM PDT until July 30 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR

AREAS AFFECTED: Southern Oregon Cascades; Klamath Basin and the Fremont-Winema National Forest; South Central Oregon Desert including the BLM Land in Eastern Lake and Western Harney Counties

DESCRIPTION: ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM TO 11 PM PDT WEDNESDAY FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 623, 624, AND 625... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 623, 624, AND 625... * IMPACTS...Abundant lightning on dry fuels resulting in the potential for numerous new fire starts. * AFFECTED AREA...For the warning on Tuesday, the eastern portion of Fire Weather zone 623 in Klamath County and all of Fire weather zones 624 and 625. For the warning on Wednesday, this includes all of Fire weather zones 623, 624 and 625. For the overnight period Wednesday night, the focus for concern is across the northern portions of these zones, roughly north of a line from Crater Lake to Summer Lake and into southern FWZ 625. For the watch on Thursday, all of Fire weather zones 623, 624, 625. * TIMING...For today, 2p-11p. For Wednesday 2p-11p. For the watch, 11p Wednesday-Thursday 11p. * THUNDERSTORMS...Scattered thunderstorms with abundant lightning is expected today, with scattered to widespread thunderstorms expected on Wednesday. Another day of scattered coverage is possible on Thursday. Storms are likely to be wet, but lightning strikes outside of precipitation cores are possible, and cause for concern for new fire starts. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts of 35 to 50 mph could travel outward up to 25 miles from thunderstorm cores. * DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr

INSTRUCTION: Follow all fire restrictions. You can find your county's emergency sign up form as well as links to fire restrictions at weather.gov/medford/wildfire. One less spark, one less wildfire. A Red Flag Warning is issued when we identify weather conditions that promote rapid spread of fire which may become life- threatening. This does not mean there is a fire. These conditions are either occurring now or will begin soon. It is important to have multiple ways to receive information from authorities. If you have not packed your go kit yet, now is the time to do so. This includes items like important documents and essentials you cannot live without. Fill your vehicle's fuel tank. Visit ready.gov/kit for more information. A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible during the valid watch time. These conditions could promote the rapid spread of wildfires which could become life- threatening. Check weather.gov/medford for forecast updates and a possible upgrade of the this watch to a Red Flag Warning.

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Weather Topic: What are Cirrus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cirrus Clouds

Next Topic: Condensation

Cirrus clouds are high-level clouds that occur above 20,000 feet and are composed mainly of ice crystals. They are thin and wispy in appearance.

What do they indicate?
They are often the first sign of an approaching storm.

Next Topic: Condensation

Weather Topic: What are Contrails?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Contrails

Next Topic: Cumulonimbus Clouds

A contrail is an artificial cloud, created by the passing of an aircraft.

Contrails form because water vapor in the exhaust of aircraft engines is suspended in the air under certain temperatures and humidity conditions. These contrails are called exhaust contrails.

Another type of contrail can form due to a temporary reduction in air pressure moving over the plane's surface, causing condensation. These are called aerodynamic contrails.

When you can see your breath on a cold day, it is also because of condensation. The reason contrails last longer than the condensation from your breath is because the water in contrails freezes into ice particles.

Next Topic: Cumulonimbus Clouds