Oregon falls back into drought, wildfire threat increases
Published 2:32 pm Friday, May 30, 2025
- A wildfire outside Ukiah in Umatilla County in 2024, part of the Battle Mountain Complex of fires that burned more than 183,000 acres. Gov. Tina Kotek has asked the Oregon Legislature for more than a year to find more, stable funding to fight wildfires in the state. (Courtesy of Northwest Interagency Coordination Center)
The warm and dry weather is starting to catch up with the Pacific Northwest as parts of the Beaver State fall back into drought.
Above-average tempers, dry skies, and a growing rain deficit over the last few months are to blame for the moderate drought conditions returning. Western Oregon and the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon are now under a moderate drought. This comes after weeks of abnormally dry conditions residing over these same areas.
The wildfire threat is now on the rise as the summer drying trend gets underway, drought returns, and temperatures warm. The final week of May has already brought several small fires to central and eastern Oregon. That’s where the wildfire threat will likely increase if the hot and dry conditions remain.
KOIN 6 News is a news partner of the Portland Tribune. Their story can be found at koin.com.
