Thunderstorms in forecast bring threat of new wildfires
EUGENE, Ore. - Conditions are primed for lightning storms in the Cascades and Eastern Oregon that could spark wildfires, the National Weather Service said Friday.
"Monsoonal moisture will move northward through central California Saturday into northern California Saturday night and into Oregon Sunday," forecasters said. "Thunderstorms will be possible over most areas as this moisture moves through."
The storm risk will move with the moisture, and lightning could strike before rain falls. Depending on where the moisture falls, the rain could extinguish any fires - or leave smoldering embers that could ignite fires as conditions dry out again.
"There is the potential for significant thunderstorm activity over areas with dry fuels starting saturday night and lasting until the moisture exits monday morning," forecasters said.
Gusty winds coupled with lightning could cause any fires that start from the storms to grow and spread.
This place has the weakest possible "thunderstorms." I miss real ones... the kind where it's rattling the house, you can hear the crack of the lightning bolts hitting the ground, and you don't know if you're more scared or more excited. =D