Fire Weather Watch

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY, RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY FRIDAY, AND FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY SATURDAY...

First, a ridge breakdown will continue to bring a threat for thunderstorms across portions of North-Central Washington into late Thursday night. Then, drier and windier weather arrives Friday and Saturday with critical fire weather conditions likely.

* Affected Area: Okanogan Highlands and Kettle Mountains (Zone 699).

* Lightning: 20 to 40 percent chance of thunderstorms through 2 AM Friday. Gusty and erratic outflow winds up to 40 mph possible with any thunderstorms.

* Winds: Saturday winds - Southwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* Relative Humidities: 14 to 26 percent.

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