8,000+ lightning strikes ignite wildfire concerns across Washington and Oregon

More than 8,000 lightning strikes ripped through Washington and Oregon over the last 24 hours, causing a large number of fires to ignite in each state.

As of 10:30 a.m., 8,199 lightning strikes were recorded across both states, primarily beginning at 4:30 a.m. before tapering off by about 11 a.m., according to KGW8.

Even though the lightning strikes have subsided, wildfire dangers persist across both states. Firefighters are currently watching for new wildfire starts.

Dry lightning and gusty winds prompted red flag warnings on Wednesday across parts of Washington’s Cascades and Olympic Mountains.

A red flag warning is issued when there is an increased fire risk due to warm temperatures, very low humidity, and strong winds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Through Washington’s mountain ranges, just one lightning strike could spark a wildfire if it reaches a dry patch of vegetation, while wind gusts could allow any new fires to quickly spread throughout the area.

Thunderstorms knock out power across western WA

The thunderstorm triggered thousands of power outages across western Washington.

Seattle City Light is reporting 369 unplanned outages, all the way from near Shoreline to Skyway, as of 3 p.m. Thursday.

Many of the exact causes of the power outages in Seattle are still under investigation, with restoration times ranging from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thunderstorm causes ground stop at SEA

A ground delay has been issued for flights arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after thunderstorms swept through the region Thursday. The delay replaces an earlier ground stop.

In an update at 1:05 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the ground delay is expected to last until 10:59 p.m.

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

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