Fire Weather Watch Issued for Klamath, Lake, Modoc and Siskiyou Counties
MEDFORD, Ore. — The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for much of the eastern and southern portion of the HWD coverage area, warning that thunderstorms could bring abundant lightning to dry fuels late Thursday night through Friday night.
The watch includes most of Klamath and Lake counties in Oregon, along with the majority of Siskiyou and Modoc counties in Northern California.
The main concern is lightning. Forecasters say storms moving north at 20 to 25 mph could produce a mix of dry and wet thunderstorms. Even when storms bring some rain, lightning can still start fires in dry vegetation, especially when rainfall is brief, scattered or does not reach the ground in meaningful amounts.
The Weather Service says abundant lightning on dry fuels can create many new fire starts. Any fires that develop could spread rapidly, and numerous new starts could strain initial attack resources.
Outflow winds are another concern. Thunderstorms can produce sudden, gusty and erratic winds that push fire in unpredictable directions. In the Medford forecast area, outflow wind gusts up to 35 mph are possible.
Live interactive map → https://www.weather.gov/wrh/hazards?wfo=mfr
Timing and Areas Included
For Northern California, the Fire Weather Watch is in effect from late Thursday night through Friday evening for fire weather zones 280, 281, 284 and 285. That includes the majority of Siskiyou and Modoc counties, including the Western Klamath National Forest, Shasta Valley, areas east and south of Mount Shasta, and Modoc County except the Surprise Valley.
For Oregon, the Fire Weather Watch is in effect from Friday afternoon through late Friday night for fire weather zones 624 and 625. That includes most of Klamath and Lake counties, including the Klamath Basin, the Fremont-Winema National Forest and the South Central Oregon Desert. The Weather Service says the southern portions of those zones, closer to the California border, have the highest chances of seeing abundant lightning.
Additional fire weather watches have also been issued or continued for parts of Northern California and Nevada, including portions of Trinity, Humboldt, Lassen, Surprise Valley, northern Washoe and other areas east of the HWD coverage region.
Residents can view the current hazard area on the National Weather Service interactive map at weather.gov/wrh/hazards?wfo=mfr.
What a Fire Weather Watch Means
A Fire Weather Watch means critical fire weather conditions are possible during the watch period.
It is an early alert. It gives fire agencies, land managers and the public time to prepare for conditions that could support new fire starts or rapid fire growth.
In this case, the concern is not just heat or wind. The key combination is lightning, dry fuels and gusty thunderstorm outflow winds.
A Fire Weather Watch can be upgraded to a Red Flag Warning if forecasters gain confidence that critical fire weather conditions are expected to occur.
A Fire Weather Watch is like a “taco watch” — the ingredients are coming together, but the event has not happened yet. If conditions become more certain, the National Weather Service may upgrade the watch to a Red Flag Warning, meaning critical fire weather conditions are expected or occurring.
What It Does Not Mean
A Fire Weather Watch does not mean a wildfire is currently burning in the watch area.
It does not mean evacuations have been ordered.
It does not mean every community in the watch area will see thunderstorms.
It also does not mean a Red Flag Warning has been issued. A watch means the ingredients may come together. A warning means the threat is more imminent or expected.
The watch also does not replace local fire restrictions. Restrictions from the Oregon Department of Forestry, CAL FIRE, federal land managers, county agencies and local fire districts may vary by location.
Why This Matters
Fire season is now active across Oregon, and fire danger has been rising across Southern Oregon and Northern California after a stretch of hot, dry weather.
Lightning-caused fires can be especially challenging because multiple starts may occur at once, sometimes in remote or hard-to-access terrain. If those starts are paired with gusty outflow winds, small fires can grow quickly before crews can contain them.
The Weather Service is urging people to follow all fire restrictions and avoid activities that could cause sparks near dry vegetation.
That includes outdoor burning, equipment use that can throw sparks, dragging chains, campfires where restricted, target shooting in dry grass areas, and parking vehicles over dry vegetation.
Anyone living, working or traveling in the watch area should monitor forecast updates through the National Weather Service and local emergency agencies through Friday.
HWD will continue tracking forecast updates, possible Red Flag Warning upgrades and any fire starts connected to the thunderstorm threat.
Weather Messages & Alerts
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Medford OR
1123 AM PDT Wed Jun 17 2026
ORZ624-625-180630-/O.NEW.KMFR.FW.A.0001.260619T2000Z-260620T0800Z/
Klamath Basin and the Fremont-Winema National Forest-South Central Oregon Desert including the BLM Land in Eastern Lake and Western Harney Counties-
1123 AM PDT Wed Jun 17 2026
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 624 AND 625...
The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Fire Weather Watch, which is in effect from Friday afternoon through late Friday night.
* IMPACTS...Abundant lightning on dry fuels can create many fire starts. Any fires that develop could spread rapidly. Numerous new fire starts could overwhelm initial attack.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 624 and 625, covering most of Klamath and Lake Counties. The southern portions of the zones near the California border have the highest chances of seeing abundant lightning.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Moving north around 20 to 25 mph. Storm mode will be a mix of dry and wet thunderstorms.
* OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts up to 35 mph.
* DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at https://weather.gov/wrh/hazards?wfo=mfr
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Follow all fire restrictions. Avoid activities that could cause sparks. Visit weather.gov/medford/wildfire for links to fire
restrictions in your area.
A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible during the valid watch time. These conditions could promote the rapid spread of wildfires which could become life-threatening. Check weather.gov/medford for forecast updates and a possible upgrade of the this watch to a Red Flag Warning.++++
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Medford OR
1123 AM PDT Wed Jun 17 2026
CAZ280-281-284-285-180630-/O.NEW.KMFR.FW.A.0001.260619T1100Z-260620T0200Z/
Western Klamath National Forest-Central Siskiyou County Including Shasta Valley-Siskiyou County from the Cascade Mountains East and South to Mt Shasta-Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley-1123 AM PDT Wed Jun 17 2026
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 280, 281, 284, AND 285...
The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Fire Weather Watch, which is in effect from late Thursday night through Friday evening.
* IMPACTS...Abundant lightning on dry fuels can create many fire starts. Any fires that develop could spread rapidly. Numerous new fire starts could overwhelm initial attack.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 280,281,284 and 285 in California. The majority of Siskiyou and Modoc Counties.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Moving north around 20 to 25 mph. Storm mode will be a mix of dry and wet thunderstorms.
* OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts up to 35 mph.
* DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at https://weather.gov/wrh/hazards?wfo=mfr
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Follow all fire restrictions. Avoid activities that could cause sparks. Visit weather.gov/medford/wildfire for links to fire
restrictions in your area.
A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible during the valid watch time. These conditions could promote the rapid spread of wildfires which could become life-threatening. Check weather.gov/medford for forecast updates and a possible upgrade of the this watch to a Red Flag Warning.Cover image: Lightning flashes over the Klamath Falls area in a past thunderstorm. The National Weather Service says a new Fire Weather Watch is focused on the risk of abundant lightning over dry fuels across parts of Southern Oregon and Northern California. Photo by Brian Gailey / Brian Gailey Photography.
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