As the month of June nears the half way mark, wildfire season seems to be moving in.
The Wenatchee Valley has already witnessed a few minor brush fires, prompting local fire agencies to brace for potentially "above normal" conditions. However after the rains last week, the upcoming week in the north central Washington area, in is expected to experience reduced fire danger due to favorable weather conditions. Nonetheless, Central Washington is anticipated to face an "above normal significant fire potential" throughout the remainder of the month, as stated in the National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for June, released monthly by the National Interagency Fire Center.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning and forecasted "excessive rainfall" until Friday, along with the likelihood of thunderstorms. Higher humidity levels resulting from the rain are expected to inhibit the growth of fires caused by lightning strikes, as noted by the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. The center also predicts a transition from "summer-like conditions" to a "cooler and moister trend" as the weekend approaches.
The recent 141 Fire in Orondo consumed approximately 70 acres before being contained by local crews on Tuesday and then later in the week crews dealt with fires in the Stayman Flats and Howard Flats areas. Looking ahead, temperatures are expected to trend warmer than normal, while precipitation is anticipated to be below normal for the remainder of June.
