The first major storm of the season hit the West Coast Tuesday night, bringing high winds across the region and heavy snow to the high country, but the forecast deluge of rain is still to come.

There are a variety of weather warnings and advisories in place. The coast of Southern Oregon and far Northern California, especially Humboldt County, is expected to be hit the hardest.

A spate of lightning storms coupled with hot dry weather has created high-risk wildfire conditions earlier than expected, officials said.

Two additional deaths were reported Friday morning by the Oregon State Medical Examiner, bringing the suspected death toll of the July 2024 heat wave to 16.

Rebecca Marshall from the Red Cross Cascades Region to share some of the ways to stay safe in heat waves.

Utilities recommend conserving energy during the hottest hours of the day, in part to help lessen strain on the state’s power grid.

Heat waves have killed hundreds of Californians and cost billions of dollars in the past decade, according to a new report from the state insurance department.

The Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office reported Monday that it’s looking into four possible heat-related deaths between Friday and Sunday. Another suspected heat death has been reported in Coos Bay.

Friday saw record temperatures in several Oregon cities, including Medford, according to the National Weather Service.

The declaration helps the state move resources and funding to hard-hit communities.

The abnormally high temperatures coming later this week, part of a multiyear warming trend in Oregon, are prompting public health concerns in a state where many homes lack air conditioning.

As Independence Day looms, so too does a heat wave that's expected throughout Southern Oregon and Northern California. The combination of strong winds, low humidity and firework use is increasing the threat of wildfires.