Red flag warning and heat and air quality advisories effective Friday and into Saturday
By Bert Etling, Ashland.news
A heat advisory issued Thursday afternoon by the National Weather Service cautions people in Southern Oregon and Northern California that temperatures could reach 107 degrees. The alert is effective from 11 a.m. Friday to 11 p.m. Saturday. Forecast highs in Ashland are 96 on Friday and 99 on Saturday, dropping to 89 on Sunday.
The city of Ashland has announced a cooling shelter will be open from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday and, pending enough volunteers offering to help host, from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Ashland Public Library, 410 Siskiyou Blvd.
Service animals will be allowed but must be kept on leashes. The shelter will be staffed by community volunteers who have requested that guests be mindful of other’s health needs. Masks will be provided on site. Donations of water and other cooling refreshments are welcomed and will be accepted at the shelter location during hours of operation.
For more information, contact Linda Reid, housing program specialist at reidl@ashland.or.us or 541-552-2043.
Due to forecast gusty winds and low humidity, the National Weather Service has also issued a red flag warning for the period from midnight Thursday night until 10 a.m. Saturday. A red flag warning means any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
An air quality advisory issued midday Thursday by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for Southern Oregon counties remains in effect until 5 pm Saturday. Wildfires burning in the region combined with forecast conditions will cause air quality levels to fluctuate and could be at unhealthy levels.
Email Ashland.news Executive Editor Bert Etling at betling@ashland.news or call or text him at 541-631-1313.
