"It's going to be a real oppressive week with dangerous heat and hot conditions across much of the U.S. Excessive heat watches are up across much of the Pacific Northwest for mid to late week, including in the Portland and Seattle metro areas. Meanwhile, heat advisories are in effect for a good part of the south-central U.S. and parts of western New York state."
NWS
Details: 107 large fires were burning across 15 states on Sunday, with weather conditions already dangerous, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
- Dixie Fire, California's second-biggest wildfire in the state's history, is the largest blaze now burning in the U.S., and authorities. It has destroyed 627 buildings and damaged 42 other structures, razing 489,287 acres as of Sunday night.
- "Near critical conditions with wind gusts up to 45 mph were reported over north central Montana, and up to 30 mph in eastern Oregon," the NIFC noted in its statement.
- "These winds caused active fire behavior on the Whitmore, Green Ridge, Black Butte, Thorne Creek, and Woods Creek fires. Extensive smoke continues to blanket California, although many wildfires were active in the late afternoon."
By the numbers: Per the NIFC on Sunday, 25 large fires were burning in Montana, 20 in Idaho, 16 in Oregon, 13 in Washington state, 11 in California, 10 in Alaska and four in Wyoming.
- Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska and New Mexico had each reported one large fire burning.
Threat level: "The fire outlook continues to reflect warmer and drier conditions leading to the high potential for severe wildfire activity throughout the western United States through the rest of summer and into the fall," per the NIFC.
- "Widespread high temperatures observed across areas in the West and with periods of lightning activity continue to exacerbate the wildfire situation."
The big picture: The past few months have already seen an unprecedented, deadly heat wave in the Pacific Northwest, with wildfires raging across the West well ahead of peak fire season.
