Triple-digit heat, meet wildfires: Parts of US face a 'smoky and hot' weekend

Residents in the Pacific Northwest face a miserable "smoky and hot" forecast this weekend, thanks to triple-digit temperatures and raging wildfires.

Excessive heat warnings on Saturday blanketed western Washington and Oregon, along with Southern California and parts of Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and Montana.

At the same time, much of the region is under critical wildfire risk through the weekend. There are currently several blazes burning in Oregon.

The Falls Fire, about 200 miles southeast of Portland, has burned 117,000 acres and is just 10% contained, according to the federal interagency fire system. Around 75 miles north of the Falls Fire, the Lone Rock Fire has engulfed nearly 84,000 acres and is 40% contained.

The National Interagency Fire Center on Saturday reported that dozens of large wildfires blanket 11 states, mostly in the West. Oregon reports the most acres on fire, followed by California. Among the fires there: two in Sequoia National Forest that have burned over 20,000 acres.

Heat in central and eastern Oregon and Washington is expected to intensify Sunday, forecasters said. Temperatures in parts of Washington could hit 110 degrees, said Brandon Lawhorn, lead meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s office in Pendleton, in eastern Oregon.

Worryingly, temperatures aren't expected to drop significantly at night in some areas. This poses additional risk of illness when people typically get a respite from daytime heat.

Unrelenting day and nighttime temperatures, Lawhorn told USA TODAY, "combined can certainly put a strain on on the body if you're not getting adequate cooling." The prolonged hot temperatures, he added, can also put strains on power grids as people run their air conditioning at night to keep cool.

Elderly people, young children, those with chronic diseases such as diabetes or who are on certain medications can all have difficulty regulating their body temperature to keep cool.

The Pacific Northwest is not known for its sweltering temperatures. Many homes closer to the coast don't have AC, but in Oregon, the Portland metropolitan area and the wine-producing Willamette Valley were under heat advisories Saturday.

A warming climate has altered summers in the region. In 2021, a weeks-long heat dome over the region with record temperatures killed over 250 people, many of whom were elderly, lived alone and didn't have AC. With the planet's continued warming, federal officials say more extreme weather events like the 2021 heat dome are expected to occur.

Lawhorn, of NWS, encouraged people to know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Additionally, he said, people should limit time outside in the sun, drink plenty of fluids and find shady areas if outdoors. They should also check up on neighbors who are at greater risk of heat illness. People should not leave their children or pets in the car, even if the car is running.

Lawhorn said isolated thunderstorms are also likely, which can create new wildfire risks. Under these conditions, he said the fires "can just blow right up."

People should pay attention to alerts on blazes near them. Here are steps to prepare:

• If people live in mountainous areas susceptible to wildfire risk, they should have their to-go bags ready if fires move toward them.
• Avoid inhaling toxic wildfire smoke: Limit outdoor activities, and keep their children inside.
• People should take precautions if outside, including avoiding strenuous activity.