Red Flag Warnings and lightning in the West

Red Flag Warnings issued Thursday for areas in Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado

lightning
Lightning between 6 a.m. Aug. 28 and 6 a.m. Aug. 29, 2019 MDT.

Moderate amounts of lightning occurred Wednesday in Southern Oregon, Northern California and Central Nevada, while larger numbers of strikes were detected in New Mexico and Arizona. Most areas where the lightning occurred in Oregon, California, and Nevada received light rain but many locations in Arizona and New Mexico saw heavier precipitation along with the lightning.

Here is a summary from the Northwest Geographic Area Coordination Center issued Thursday at 6:57 a.m. PDT:

Thunderstorms moved north across the Pacific Northwest spreading moderate lightning from the California border to the Puget Sound. Pockets of lightning occurred in South Central Oregon, the Oregon and southern Washington Cascades, and Western Oregon and southwest Washington, with scattered light precipitation. Isolated lightning strikes in Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon. Light initial attack occurred with the largest fire reported in Central Washington for approximately 100 acres.

 

Observed precipitation
Observed precipitation between 9 a.m. CDT Aug. 28 and 9 a.m. Aug. 29, 2019.

Dry lightning is in the forecast for most of Utah Thursday, resulting in Red Flag Warnings.

Red Flag Warnings
Red Flag Warnings for August 29, 2019.

(Red Flag Warnings can be modified throughout the day as NWS offices around the country update and revise their weather forecasts.)

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.