Western Washington braces for 'above normal' wildfire season

EVERETT — The Puget Sound region, Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains will be at “above normal” risk for wildfires all summer, according to updated maps released by the National Interagency Fire Center.

For the months of July, August and September, a swath of Western Washington from the Columbia River to the Canadian border will be at elevated risk — with Snohomish County squarely in the danger zone.

The immediate forecast? Pretty dry. No rain is predicted in Everett until at least July 16. Highs in Snohomish County and the surrounding region could be 10 to 13 degrees higher than normal, said Dev McMillian, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Darrington and its heavily forested surroundings could see temperatures up to 95 degrees this weekend.

“With hot and dry conditions, it definitely leaves an elevated concern for fire weather activity,” McMillian said. “Nonetheless, we’re not expecting to see the strong winds with this sort of pattern.”

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/western-washington-braces-for-above-normal-wildfire-season/