6:00 PM Saturday Sept. 10th: Winds have diminished across most of the area, except for areas loosely near the Gorge and parts of the Metro (near the stations in the red shading) where the Red Flag Warning for Winds and low Humidity remains in effect.
Other areas had wind warnings converted to warnings for Dry and Significantly Unstable conditions. This means new and existing fires could show strong signs of smoke column development. Difference is Significantly Unstable WILL NOT start new fires by itself, like winds can.
Humidity along the coast has risen well above critical values. The Red Flag Warnings there have been cancelled. Gusty southerly winds will arrive this evening. However the higher humidity greatly reduces the wildfire threat.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.