Red Flag Warning

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

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

* Affected Area: East Washington Central Cascades (Zone 696), East Portion of North Cascades National Park/Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (Zone 697) and East Washington North Cascades (Zone 698).

* Winds: Northwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph Thursday.

* Lightning: 15 to 30 percent chance of thunderstorms through 2AM Friday.

* Impacts: New fire starts from lightning Thursday. New and existing fires could be impacted by gusty outflow winds.