Extremely Critical Fire Danger in Oregon

WoW! :eek:

...The upcoming weather pattern setup is extraordinarily rare, according to the National Weather Service, with an arctic air mass more typically seen in January moving toward the area. "The end result is an early September weather pattern that probably occurs in this magnitude only 2-4 times a century,” the National Weather Service said, adding, “this offshore wind event is literally off the charts for this time of year, and by many measures."...
I knew we were under a Red Flag Warning (which isn't unusual this summer), but I hadn't heard the Extremely Critical designation. And I hadn't heard just how rare the underlying weather event is.
 
Even though there aren't any big fires close enough to threaten Bend right now... it's still very smoky.
Objects just a couple hundred yards away are hazy from smoke in the air.
I think the local smoke is mostly from the Lionshead fire -- northwest of here. Strong winds blowing from the northwest.

GOES22502020251b6YLO9.jpg

Outside it smells strongly of smoke -- even to an olfactorily-impaired guy like me. :unsure:
 
Maybe Lionshead, White River or maybe the Washington fires. One blew up from the start next to Omak yesterday, is already 67K or so as of this morning. Either way there is plenty around to smoke us up. Some interesting, for lack of a better term, stuff showing in California too. Especially what I think is the Southern Sierra.

https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES/sector_band.php?sat=G17&sector=pnw&band=GEOCOLOR&length=24

For those impacted, I wish you all the best of luck.
 
A day later and the smoke in Oregon is still westbound...which is unusual.

GOES17502020253y3p6B2.jpg

Sometimes there are strong winds that blow west down the Columbia River Gorge, but this is a lot broader than that.
 
I just heard from my next door neighbor that her family cabin on the Little Northfork of the Santiam River -- built by her father in the '50s -- has burned...in one of those plumes in the satellite pic I posted above. They've told me over the years, "...going to the cabin..." -- but no more.
 
ski3pin said:
We just heard from friends in Leaburg on the McKenzie, they are safe in a motel in Eugene. They were evacuated from the Holiday Farm fire at 1 am yesterday.
We've not heard an update, but based on the current fire map it does not look good for their home and property.
 
On Sept. 8th I was checking road conditions for construction work when I saw that I-5 was closed from Medford to the California border. Curious, I clicked on the camera icon and was shocked to see that it had captured the fire at Phoenix, Oregon. This is one of the small towns that was destroyed. The screenshot was taken on September 8 @ 8:29 pm. It shows the active fire on the highway. Driving from Vancouver, Canada making my way home to California I had no idea that this would be the most stressful road trip of my life.
I-5 Road camera Phoenix.jpg


On Sept. 9th I decided to go ahead and start my drive since I-5 reopened but as I was driving down I-5, my phone kept on getting alert signals with notices about conditions. The most jarring one was the one that said GO NOW! I had to pull over to make sure I was in a safe area and not the evacuation zone.
Evacuation alert.jpg

Driving on I-5 and seeing the devastation of Phoenix and Talent was surreal. My heart breaks for all those who have lost their loved ones and their homes. Prayers to them all. My home is in California and we are still fighting countless of wildfires ourselves. That does not lessen the devastation and loss of Oregon and Washington.
 
There are no fires threatening Bend...but it looks like the end of the world outside. VERY smoky.

GOES17202020256LSGuyC.jpg

IMG_20200911_171830.jpg IMG_20200911_172130.jpg

It's been a long time since I've seen the recommendation for everyone to stay indoors in central Oregon.
IMG_20200912_103733.jpg IMG_20200912_103809.jpg IMG_20200912_103748.jpg

I'm not complaining, compared to people who have lost their homes -- even their town...but it's a weird depressing time... as if it wasn't already, without the fires.
:(
 
Today first day since Wednesday that the sun is out and only a bit of haze.
Fog still around but not as low as the past few days.
Our area looked like Mark's for several days.
Lots of smoke above super thick fog.

Out on a walk last evening about 7:30 the fog/smoke so thick couldn't see past 300'.

Hopefully it is staring to get better.
Feeling very sad for all the folks who have been burned out.
Frank
 
While staying indoors to avoid the Hazardous level smoke around here, I wanted to watch something to distract me from the end of the world. I have several movies saved on my DVR, but they tend toward "film noir" -- and "dark" isn't what I need right now.
Then I just-now saw that The Black Stallion is showing on TCM. I've watched it at least twice before...but I realized that this stunningly beautiful film with heart is what I need to watch again. Recording it now.
Of course, I could stream something else to watch, but this is perfect.
 
Wow Mark.I saw that it was going to be on yesterday so I also recorded it.
After the bad Giants day I'll have to watch it.
It's still a great movie even after seeing it many times.
Frank
 
ski3pin said:
We've not heard an update, but based on the current fire map it does not look good for their home and property.
It was confirmed a couple of days ago, our friends lost everything...........

Another friend/customer for over 40 years is a long time resident of Berry Creek in northern California - devastated by the Bear/North Complex fire. I've been watching for news, including the list of the dead. He called this week. He's fine and his house was spared along with what he calls his "little car" in the garage in back. He bought himself a Porsche when he was a young man and settled in his career. He still has it.

Good news, all got out with their lives.
 
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