Wildfire in California, August 1 to 31, 2018

Name: Wildfire in California, August 1 to 31, 2018
Start: 2018-08-01T13:00
End: 2018-08-31T23:59
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: 0
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 Aug 1, 2:50 AM PST, 10 hours 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 1, 2:50 AM PST, 10 hours 10 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
350 AM PDT Wed Aug 1 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...
A cooling trend is expected the rest of this week as upper level
ridging shifts eastward while an upper trough moves into the
Pacific Northwest. Afternoon high temperatures will be similar to
those on Tuesday, a little above normal levels, with the coolest
locations in Delta breeze influenced areas. Smoke will again be a
factor and will add a little additional cooling, especially in
areas near active wildfires. Onshore flow will bring additional
cooling across the area on Thursday. Valley temperatures over the
next few days will generally peak in the 90s, near 100 around
Redding. Temperatures cool a further on Saturday, a little below
normal levels.

Wildfire smoke continues to affect air quality. AirNow air quality
measurements at 2 am showed some areas with Unhealthy levels. Limit
outdoor activity today if possible. HRRR Smoke model suggests that
the Delta breeze may locally bring some cleaner air through the
Delta and into adjacent areas. For current conditions and air
quality forecasts, go to Airnow.gov.

Monsoon moisture is expected to be south and east of the area and will
keep thunderstorm chances out of the forecast.

&&

.EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Sunday THROUGH Wednesday)

Dry weather with 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 to
within a few degrees of normal, with Valley highs in the 90s.
Wildfire smoke could also continue to impact visibility and air
quality. Models are suggesting that a deeper trough approach the
West Coast next week, but forecast confidence is low in the
details.

Dang

&&

.AVIATION...

Local MVFR/IFR in smoke and haze across interior northern CA the
next 24 hours. Valley winds will primarily remain at 10 kt or
less, except SW gusts up to 25 kt near the Delta and over higher
terrain.

Dang

&&

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

Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Shasta Lake/North Shasta County

When: August 1, 1:00 PM PST to August 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Shasta Lake/North Shasta County forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

The Hirz Fire began on August 9, 2018, near Lakehead by Shasta Lake, in Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Shasta County. The fire was determined to be human caused. The fire burned 46,150 acres and caused evacuations through the area, but no structures were destroyed and no injuries were reported. The fire was not fully contained until September 12. The fire came close to the Carr Fire. The Delta Fire burned into the western perimeter of the Hirz Fire on September 10.

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: 782722.