Updated
Updated · KTVZ · Jul 15
Central Oregon Faces 60-Mph Storm Threat as 90-Degree Heat Persists Into Next Week
Updated
Updated · KTVZ · Jul 15

Central Oregon Faces 60-Mph Storm Threat as 90-Degree Heat Persists Into Next Week

3 articles · Updated · KTVZ · Jul 15

Summary

  • Most of Central Oregon is under a marginal severe-storm risk Tuesday afternoon and evening, with fast-developing cells capable of producing gusts near 60 mph along with heavy rain and lightning.
  • Low-to-mid 90s heat is helping fuel those storms, marking a third straight day above 90 degrees; Bend has already topped 90 on eight of the first 15 days of July.
  • Fire danger is already high, making thunderstorm lightning a key concern even as the storms are expected to move north into Washington by evening.
  • Hot weather will outlast the storm threat: temperatures may briefly ease into the upper 80s Thursday before returning to the low-to-mid 90s Friday through the weekend and into at least mid-next week.

Insights

With wildfire risk now worse than predicted, which Pacific Northwest communities are the most dangerously unprepared?
As 'snow droughts' intensify, can restoring rivers create the 'wet fire breaks' needed to save Western towns?