Say goodbye to the rain. The Northwest and parts of Canada are about to see an abrupt shift from unseasonably cool weather to record-breaking temperatures, in some areas. Triple digit highs are expected to settle over the region for the next week.
It's going to be a tough wildfire season in the West. That's according to federal forecasters. But here in the Northwest, it's been hard to see that prediction through all the rain.
The forecast for the Boise area has temperatures reaching triple digits for nearly a week. Medford, Ore., could reach 106 next week. The forecast for Richland, Wash., shows 113 on Tuesday.
Geographer John Abatzoglou of the University of Idaho says the Northwest's dry winter set the stage for wildfires.
“Much of the Northwest has been well below normal in terms of precipitation," Abatzoglou says. "So even though it has been a little bit wet the last few weeks, we still have very dry conditions.”
Abatzoglou notes that the heat wave is expected to hit just in time for the Fourth of July –- and lots of firework displays.
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