Meteorologist and behavior analyst: cooler trough means lower activity now but drying may increase behavior later
Aug 30, 2026
Incident meteorologist Aviva Braun said a trough will keep temperatures lower but relatively dry conditions (20–30% humidity) at fire elevations; fire behavior analyst Nathan Lancaster said smoldering will likely continue with slow northward movement and spotting observed so far at about 0.2 mile.
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The briefing included a detailed scientific update on weather and fire behavior. Aviva Braun, incident meteorologist, said a compressed marine layer earlier exposed the fire to warm overnight conditions and that the event feeding activity has relaxed into a trough; she told the audience that humidities at fire elevations have ranged from 20–30% in the short-term outlook, so the region will remain cool but dry enough to allow activity as fuels dry. She summarized the recent pattern change that produced light precipitation around Aug. 27 and said the trough will bring weak fronts without a new moisture source.
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