The Spruce Lake Wildfire was started by lightning at around 1545 PDT on 07/29/17. As of 0430 PDT on 08/01/17, the fire covered 130 acres and was 0 percent contained.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MFR wrote it up.
The Spruce Lake Wildfire was started by lightning at around 1545 PDT on 07/29/17. As of 0430 PDT on 08/01/17, the fire covered 130 acres and was 0 percent contained. 300000 dollars had been spent on firefighting efforts.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 29, 1:57 PM PST, 48 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Medford OR
257 PM PDT Sat Jul 29 2017
.DISCUSSION...Current satellite shows mostly clear skies over the
forecast area. Low clouds from this morning have burned off and
now cumulus is bubbling up over the higher terrain along and east
of the Cascades. Not expecting much more than these buildups as
the best moisture and instability are just to the east of the
area. However, there is marginal moisture and instability
lingering in the eastern portions of Lake and Modoc counties. It's
possible for some of the cumulus there to throw out a bolt or two,
so have left a slight chance of thunderstorms for those areas.
The big story for the week will the very hot temperatures and how
long they are supposed to last. A strong ridge will build over the
area bringing temperatures to 10 to 20 degrees above normal through
at least Thursday, possibly into next weekend. Valleys west of the
Cascades and in northern California are expected to be in the triple
digits. Overnight temperatures will be very warm as well and little
relief will be felt overnight with low temperatures dropping only
into the upper 60s to lower 70s. An excessive heat watch remains in
effect for this. East side valleys will get their share of hot
temperatures as well. Most locations will be in the upper 90s,
hovering around the century mark. Overnight temperatures will remain
warm there as well and have expanded the excessive heat watch to
account for places like Klamath Falls that usually cool down at
night.
This prolonged period of hot temperatures will bring the potential
for heat related illnesses. Unless you have to be outdoors this
week, remain in a cool place and be sure to check on those without
A/C. These hot temperatures will also stress outdoor animals and
livestock, so be sure they have shade and water available. Also, if
you plan to cool off in area rivers and lakes, remember the water is
still cold, especially compared to outside temperatures.
Another concern during this heat is the thunderstorm potential. Much
like today, another small threat exists for eastern portions of
Modoc and Lake counties. Again, parameters are marginal, but it's
still worth mentioning a slight chance. On Monday, as the ridge
begins to nudge west, the area of instability does as well, mainly
for most of Modoc and Lake counties and then portions of Siskiyou
and Klamath counties Again it's only a slight chance as moisture
isn't too abundant. Then as the ridge builds in further over the
area, instability decreases for Tuesday through Thursday.
Currently it looks like the heat will break on Friday and, as is
typical with the heat breaking, the thunderstorm threat returns and
covers a much broader area. It's too early in the forecast period to
pin down exact details, but it's worth noting that models are
showing active weather on Friday and Saturday, mainly east and south
of the Cascades and Siskiyous. /BR-y
&&
.AVIATION...29/18Z TAF CYCLE... Along the coast...Fog and low
stratus has cleared, save for some lingering near KBOK, which should
clear over the next few hours. Expect strong north winds and VFR
this afternoon...late tonight the marine layer will return. Though
it won't be as strong as this morning, expect IFR to LIFR cigs and
vis. There is some uncertainty with timing, since lower conditions
will depend partially on when the offshore wind component
diminishes.
Inland... VFR will continue throughout the TAF period, with the
exception of in the vcty of wildfires, where smoke could restrict
vis to under a mile. This will be most prevalent in western Siskiyou
County, Modoc County, and over the Cascades. There is also a slight
chance of thunderstorms over the Warners into southern Lake
County, including KLKV. -MSC
&&
.MARINE...Updated 238 PM PDT Saturday 29 July 2017...A thermal
trough in northern California will remain in place into next week
with north winds and steep to very steep seas. The thermal trough
will strengthen through early next week with gales beyond about 5 NM
from shore and south of Gold Beach. Meanwhile small craft conditions
will affect areas from Bandon south through Sunday evening. The
models suggest gales and small craft conditions could expand in
coverage Sunday night through Monday evening which will expand the
coverage area of gales and small craft conditions. Please see MWWMFR
for more details. -Sven/Petrucelli
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Excessive Heat Watch from Monday morning through Thursday
evening for ORZ021-023>030.
CA...Excessive Heat Watch from Monday morning through Thursday
evening for CAZ080>085.
Pacific Coastal Waters...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM PDT Wednesday for PZZ356-376.
Gale Warning until 5 AM PDT Wednesday for PZZ356-376.
Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM Sunday to 5 AM PDT Wednesday for
PZZ350-370.
MNF/DW/SBNThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The Spruce Lake Wildfire was started by lightning at around 1545 PDT on 07/29/17. As of 0430 PDT on 08/01/17, the fire covered 130 acres and was 0 percent contained. 300000 dollars had been spent on firefighting efforts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, July 2017
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 705701.