Fire & Smoke
‘Abundant lightning’ on dry fuels triggers red flag warning
A red flag warning is in effect until 11 p.m. this evening as “abundant lightning on dry fuels is expected along with winds up to 35 mph.
September 6, 2025
A red flag warning is in effect until 11 p.m. this evening as “abundant lightning on dry fuels is expected along with winds up to 35 mph.
The National Weather Service issued another red flag warning for Tuesday, Aug. 26, as forecasters expect lightning on dry fuels on an already parched landscape. A fire burning southwest of Mount Ashland on Monday prompted issuance of a Level 1 (be ready) evacuation order in that area.
A monsoonal air mass moving into Southern Oregon is bringing an elevated risk of lightning on an already dry landscape, prompting the National Weather Service in Medford to issue a red flag warning.
Very hot conditions forecast for southwest Oregon prompted the Medford office of the National Weather Service to issue an extreme heat warning Wednesday afternoon for the period from 1 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Monday.
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for Tuesday afternoon in Southern Oregon, including Ashland, as temperatures are expected to hit 100 degrees along with dry, gusty winds and low humidity.
Southern Oregon is facing “dangerously” hot conditions Sunday morning through late Monday night with the high temperature in Ashland forecast to exceed 100 degrees Monday, Aug. 11, while Medford will hit 109, according to an extreme heat warning from the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service Medford office has issued a red flag warning due to the risk of “abundant” lightning striking on dry fuels from 2 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, in areas of Southern Oregon including Ashland.
Oregon will receive federal emergency funding to support recovery efforts in three southwest counties that experienced intense storms and floods between March 13- 20. The floods resulted in nearly $9.5 million in damage according to the Oregon Emergency Management Department.
Crews continue to make progress on the more than 70 fires in Jackson and Josephine counties.
At least 880 people have lost their jobs at NOAA nationwide, according to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, with some of those job losses certainly hitting Oregon. State climatologist Larry O’Neill, who works closely with National Weather Service personnel, says the impact of cuts on Oregon could be critical.
This year’s Ashland Mystery Festival is scheduled to run Oct. 16 through 19, and will be headquartered at the Historic Ashland Armory.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is warning people about a phishing scam involving fake emails that appear to come from the official Jackson Alerts system.
Throughout October, 12 female professionals from across the country and Australia — organized by Ashland-based nonprofit Keeping All Women Safe (KAWS) — will offer “valuable information” to help women and men cultivate safer, healthier and more empowering lives and relationships.
The Oregon Senate on Monday passed the long-awaited transportation bill to update the state’s funding sources for road maintenance and operations. The bill would raise taxes and fees, including a gas tax increase from $0.40 to $0.46, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Once a vibrant hub for local produce and community gathering, the Ashland Growers Market is now, some say, struggling with shrinking sales and dwindling attendance. Longtime vendors report drops of up to two-thirds in revenue, while people voice frustrations over pricing, location and atmosphere.
A former civil rights attorney said that the Trump administration’s lawsuit demanding that Oregon turn over voter information to investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud is unprecedented.
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