The ongoing heat dome currently scorching the Pacific Northwest with nearly record-high temperatures is also leading to severe wildfire risks across eight western states. The National Interagency Fire Center has raised fire danger warnings as temperatures approach 110°F in Phoenix, 100°F in Fresno, and set new records in Seattle and Portland. Climate experts at the Climate Impact Company highlighted in their 2026 summer forecast that the Northwest is likely to experience perilous heat and expanding drought conditions throughout the summer. The mixture of unprecedented heat, extreme dryness, and low humidity is producing scenarios reminiscent of the disastrous 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome.
