Temps to hover near 100 for Fourth of July on Tuesday; fire danger level hiked to ‘high’
By Bert Etling, Ashland.news
A heat advisory that began Friday will remain in effect until 11 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service announced Sunday afternoon. The advisory, which covers broad areas across Northern California and Southern Oregon, warns of triple-digit high temps in several areas, with others mostly in the 90s.
Temperatures up to 109 are expected in western Siskiyou County, and near 100 in the Rogue, Illinois, and Applegate valleys.
Forecast highs in Ashland are 92 for Monday, 98 for Tuesday (the Fourth of July), 97 for Wednesday and 91 for Thursday, with lows of 59, 64, 61 and 59, respectively.
The fire danger level in the city of Ashland increased to “high” (yellow) on Saturday, July 1. During this time of year, flying embers from a wildfire can more readily ignite homes and vegetation and may cause evacuations. The fire danger level also went up to “high” on areas protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District.
The threat of fire weather conditions will become elevated west of the Cascades on Monday and Tuesday, according to an area forecast discussion released late Sunday evening by the NWS Medford office. Winds will become more of an issue, with gusts up to 20 mph possible. Humidities will drop tuesday, but will be “just a bit too high for a red flag warning at this time,” according to the discussion.
Those planning to be outdoors for an extended time on Independence Day and Wednesday should take actions now to plan for the heat, the NWS cautions, since hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. People should drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances, according to the advisory.
The Ashland Public Library at 410 Siskiyou Blvd is available as a spot to get out of the heat, the city of Ashland suggests. It’s open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It will be closed, though, on Tuesday, July 4.
In Hunter Park, the Daniel Meyer Memorial Pool is usually open Tuesdays through Sundays, but will be closed this Tuesday for Independence Day (check ashland.or.us/Swim for a full schedule). In Lithia Park, the swim reservoir and the wading area near the children’s playground are both open. In addition, the splash pad at Garfield Park is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Email Ashland.news Executive Editor Bert Etling at [email protected] or call or text him at 541-631-1313.
