Bend, Oregon – Dry lightning and gusty winds could ignite fast-moving wildfires Tuesday afternoon across Oregon’s central mountains and the southern Deschutes National Forest, prompting a Fire Weather Watch for the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Pendleton, the alert will remain in effect from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday as a dry cold front destabilizes the area. While thunderstorms will be isolated, any lightning strikes could spark new fires due to minimal rainfall — most areas will see less than a tenth of an inch.
The affected zone includes Fire Weather Zones 700 and 705, covering large portions of Jefferson and Deschutes counties. Winds could gust up to 45 mph, accelerating fire spread and making suppression efforts difficult. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged, and residents are urged to secure loose items and have evacuation plans ready.
Fire crews across the region are on standby, and further alerts — including potential Red Flag Warnings — may be issued as conditions evolve.
