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The Bootleg Fire in Oregon is so large, it's creating its own weather
As hot, dry weather conditions continue to fuel wildfires across much of the United States, the Bootleg Fire in Oregon has become so intense that it is creating its own weather.
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As hot, dry weather conditions continue to fuel wildfires across much of the United States, the Bootleg Fire in Oregon has become so intense that it is creating its own weather.
The Bootleg Fire has scorched 537 square miles -- an area larger than Los Angeles and about half the size of Rhode Island. It grew to nearly 364,113 acres Monday and is 30% contained, Oregon Department of Forestry spokesperson Marcus Kauffman told CNN.
It's one of at least eight large fires burning in Oregon and one of at least 80 burning across 13 states, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The climate crisis has made deadlier and more destructive wildfires the new normal.
Much of the West remains under the threat of fire conditions Tuesday, with nearly 3.5 million people under red flag warnings, according to a tweet from the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center. A red flag warning means "critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly," the prediction center said.
Excessive heat warnings will continue for more than 337,000 people, and nearly 650,000 more are under a heat advisory.
Temperatures in the region will remain up to 10 degrees above normal over the next 48 hours, CNN Meteorologist Michael Guy said. There's also a chance of dry storms, which lack the precipitation that is desperately needed to help calm the flames.
While some sporadic rain is possible across the Intermountain West, "this is not really going to do much in the way of fighting any of the wildfires out West," Guy said.
"Some rain may fall from afternoon storms, but it not be enough to stop or put out the fires that are ongoing," he said.