"Unfortunately not unexpected, but if you look at the map of wildfires current in the Northwest, extending from northern California through Oregon, Washington and then eastward through Idaho into western Montana, there are a number of large wildfires on the map."

 

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey said many of the fire complexes currently burning are producing thick smoke, that blankets the area in the afternoon hours, when relative humidity is low, and winds are active.  Conservative numbers put acres burned in the region over 100,000, but that figure is expected to climb substantially.  Making this bad situation even worse Rippey pointed out an active monsoon season in the southwest and four-corners area, which is having a direct impact on the PNW, leading to thunder storms and cases of dry lighting.

 

"And that has the potential to ignite new fast developing wildfires over the next several days."

 

At last report at least a dozen wildfires are burning across the three state region.

 

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