Lightning and an abundance of dry fuel increased the wildfire risk in the western Columbia River Gorge and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, which is under a red flag warning until 11 a.m. this morning, according to the National Weather Service in Portland.
“Frequent lightning and critically dry fuels may result in numerous fire starts. Thunderstorm outflow winds may result in erratic fire spread,” the weather service said on its website.
Red flag warnings are also in effect for the Mount Hood National Forest, the Mount Adams Ranger District, the lower Columbia Basin, the Yakama Alpine District and the south central Cascade Mountains.
Though the region is no longer under a weather advisory, temperatures are expected to be in the high 80s today in Clark County with partly sunny skies and lows tonight around 60.
