Fire Weather Watch

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY, FIRE WEATHER WATCHES FOR WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...

A ridge breakdown will first bring a threat for thunderstorms across portions of central and north-central Washington today and tonight. Drier weather arrives Friday and Saturday, though winds will become increasingly gusty with critical fire weather conditions likely.

* Affected Area: Colville Reservation (Zone 702).

* Lightning: 15 to 30 percent chance of thunderstorms from 1 PM Thursday to 2 AM Friday. Gusty and erratic outflow winds up to 35 mph possible in any thunderstorms.

* Winds: Friday afternoon winds - Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Saturday afternoon winds - Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* Relative Humidities: 12 to 25 percent.

* Impacts: New fire starts from lightning Thursday. New and existing fires could be impacted by gusty outflow winds. Gusty winds and low humidity Friday and Saturday afternoon may lead to rapid fire spread with any new or ongoing fires.