Red Flag Warning

...WIDESPREAD BREEZY WESTERLY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY TODAY...

...HIGH-BASED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON ALONG THE WASHINGTON CASCADES AND BLUE MOUNTAINS...

.An approaching low-pressure system will bring widespread breezy westerly winds through the Cascade gaps, across the Columbia Basin, and into portions of the Blue Mountains today. Coupled with low relative humidity, this will lead to critical fire weather conditions. Moreover, high-based showers and thunderstorms are forecast, with the best chances of abundant lightning through the remainder of this morning along the Washington Cascades and this afternoon for the northeast Blue Mountains.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 695 East Washington South Central Cascade Mountains.

* TIMING...Until noon PDT today.

* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to scattered coverage with abundant lightning.

* OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusty, erratic winds up to 40 mph.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.