Fire Outlook Shows Above Normal Chances for Fires Beginning in July

The National Interagency Fire Center has released their outlook for the 2020 fire season.

Meteorologist for the Predictive Services Unit in the Northwest John Saltenberger says starting in July, fire potential is above normal for our area.

"Right now we're looking at a particular problem spot in North Central Washington around the Okanogan region. It's particularly dry at this point. There's little likelihood we're going to alleviate the deficit in precipitation. We also go into fire season 2020 with unusually dry conditions on the Eastern Slopes of the Cascades indicating those as a probable problem spot for an extra fire load."

Saltenberger says the mountain snow was falling at too high an elevation to be a significant help, and that lower elevations are indicating more drought-like conditions.

Without significant precipitation in July, Saltenberger says the above normal dangers will likely extend the remainder of the summer.

"Long-range outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center says the Pacific Northwest is most likely to undergo a dry summer and so we anticipate where we are now is going to worsen as we go through the fire season."

Saltenberger says where we are now is reminding some of 2003.

He also noted that lightning is the difference with firefighters having a good track record in man-made fires.