Wildfire in California, August 1 to 31, 2018

Name: Wildfire in California, August 1 to 31, 2018
Start: 2018-08-01T00:00
End: 2018-08-31T00:00
Location: California

August 1 to 31, 2018 · NWS STO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Large wildfires developed across Northern California early August during a period of high temperatures, and low humidity.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 9
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS STO wrote it up.

Large wildfires developed across Northern California early August during a period of high temperatures, and low humidity.

What forecasters said that day

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 Sacramento, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 31, 2:28 PM PST, 9 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 2:28 PM PST, 9 hours 32 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
328 PM PDT Tue Jul 31 2018

.SYNOPSIS...

Smoke will help to keep daytime temperatures cooler the next
couple of days. Cooling trend for the second half of the week into
early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Areas of smoke and haze are evident on satellite imagery this
afternoon as several wildfires continue to burn across northern CA.
Afternoon temperatures are running a few degrees warmer compared
to yesterday's, except for the northern Sacramento Valley where
smoke is dense. Latest radar indicates that thunderstorm activity
has remain outside of the forecast area as of this writing.

Guidance shows a series of upper disturbances moving over the
upper ridge and flattening it. This should result in a cooling
trend across interior NorCal, with highs returning to near or
slightly above normal. However, wildfire smoke will likely
continue to make for a difficult temperature forecast. Look for
Valley highs in the mid to low 100s, and 70s to 90s over the
foothills/mountains.

Haze and areas of smoke will continue to be the main concern
through the forecast period. Some smoke relief is expected across
the Delta influenced areas during the overnight hours as the
Delta breeze develops. Latest forecast shows similar smoke
conditions developing by Wednesday afternoon across the valley
and mountains. Monsoon moisture will keep thunderstorm chances out
of the forecast.

&&

.EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Saturday THROUGH Tuesday)

A gradual cooling trend is expected through the weekend into next
week as upper level ridging is flattened at times by a series of
disturbances. Temperatures will drop below seasonal normals, with
Valley highs in the low to mid 90s. Wildfire smoke could also
continue to bring some cooling if it remains widespread. Dry
weather is expected to continue through the forecast period.
Models are suggesting that a deep trough that arrives next week
will have limited moisture, limiting any precipitation to the
northwest coast of California.

&&

.AVIATION...

Local MVFR/IFR in HZ and FU near wildfires over the next 24 hours.
Local SW wind gusts to 25 kts through the Delta and through W-NW
oriented canyons/ridges of Coastal Range late day and overnight.

&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada

When: August 1, 12:00 AM PST to August 31, 12:00 AM PST
Where: West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada forecast zone
Injuries: 0 direct, 9 indirect
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The Donnell Fire began on August 1, 2018, along Highway 108 in Stanislaus National Forest in Tuolumne County. The cause of the fire is unknown. The fire burned 36,450 acres, 54 structures destroyed and 81 minor structures destroyed. of them homes. Among the destroyed buildings was the historic Dardanelle Resort and Dardanelle Bridge. The fire was not fully contained until early October. There were a total of 9 injuries from the fire.

What these are

Wildfire: A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in California, August 2018

Sources

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: 782710.