Fire Weather Watch

...THUNDERSTORMS, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY...

.A strong trough with abundant moisture will usher in a cold front through the region from Saturday into Sunday. There is a risk for thunderstorms as well as strong south to southwest synoptic driven winds. This will lead to critical fire weather conditions across the region.

The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Fire Weather Watch for thunderstorms as well as wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Saturday morning through Sunday morning.

* Affected Area: Okanogan Valley (Zone 703).

* Thunderstorms: Scattered showers and thunderstorms Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning.

* Timing of Thunderstorms: Best chances for thunderstorms are from 11 AM Saturday morning through 8 AM Sunday morning.

* Outflow Winds: Gusty outflow wind gusts up to 50 mph.

* Impacts: Lightning strikes will have the potential to start new fires, and gusty and erratic outflow winds could cause dangerous conditions around new and existing wildfires.

* General Winds: South winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts around 30 to 40 mph.

* Timing of General Winds: Peak general winds will be seen from noon to 10 PM Saturday.

* Relative Humidities: 20 to 25 percent.

* Impacts: Rapid fire spread is possible with any new or ongoing fires.