Jackson & Josephine County Fire Danger Levels Increase And Triple Digits Temperatures Expected

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore — The National Weather Service has also issued an excessive heat warning for the next few days for a significant part of the Willamette Valley.

Currently high fire danger levels in Jackson and Josephine counties will increase to extreme at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow- September 6. The hot, dry, and windy weather will lead to excessive heat and an associated increased fire danger.

Fire Danger Levels In Jackson & Josephine Counties

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District issued a release indicating that while the danger of fires decreased to high in Jackson and Josephine counties after August’s rainfall, fire danger has now been increased to extreme.

This is due to the increased temperatures, dry vegetation, and the potential for east winds and thunderstorms in the district.

Extreme regulations now apply and no open fires are allowed except at specified sites. A full list can be found on ODF Southwest Oregon District’s website.

Oregon temperatures May Go Into triple digits As 2 Weather Patterns Merge

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service, Jacob Hill, confirmed that two weather patterns are coming together to drive up the heat. A high-pressure system is moving in from the west and at the same time, an inverted thermal trough is shifting the wind.

Instead of winds flowing inland from the ocean, they will be blowing from the Columbia Basin, over the Cascades, and into the Willamette Valley.

The result will be hot and dry conditions that push up temperatures, increasing the threat of wildfires. Hill said, “It looks like minimum temperatures are going to be in the mid to upper 60s.”

A state of emergency has been issued by Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson which will take effect at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Two cooling centers will also be opened at:

Cook Plaza, 19421 S.E. Stark St. in Gresham: This can be found at 19421 S.E. Stark St. in Gresham.

Portland Covenant Church: This can be found at 4046 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Portland.

Other extreme heat arrangements include:

• The Portland-area transit system TriMet won’t turn anyone away who needs a ride to a cooling center but can’t pay.
• Portland Public Schools will continue as usual on Wednesday, but the district is taking steps to mitigate the heat. These include leaving ventilation systems on overnight to bring in cool, fresh air.
• School districts in Clackamas County (including Estacada and Colton) will release students early on  Thursday as classrooms lack air-conditioning units.  Parkrose and Gervais are also planning to release students early.

Extreme Heat Wildfire Risk

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued air quality advisories for Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jackson, Klamath, Lake, and Malheur counties as wildfires are expected to be exacerbated by the heat.

See: Ashland Fire On I-5 Wetlined & Contained By Firefighters

The department also expects intermittent smoke in Clackamas, Douglas, Lane, Linn, and Marion counties, until at least Friday. The DEQ recommends people stay inside where possible, keeping doors and windows closed.

Residents could run their air conditioning or- if it’s too hot, consider moving to a cooler location. Strenuous outdoor activities should be avoided and people with medical conditions must follow a breathing plan and keep prescriptions filled.

Cool spaces can be located by calling 211 or visiting 211info.org.