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: Northern and Central Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101), Selkirk Mountains of Northeast Washington (Zone 700), Foothills of Northeast Washington (Zone 701), Eastern Columbia Basin -Palouse -Spokane Area (Zone 708) and Lower Palouse - Snake River (Zone 709).

* Winds: West/Southwest 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* Relative Humidities: 13 to 24 percent.

* Impacts: Gusty winds and low humidity Saturday afternoon may lead to rapid fire spread with any new or ongoing fires.