Fire Weather Watch

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

A ridge breakdown pattern will first bring an elevated threat for mountain thunderstorms across portions of central and north- central Washington tonight into Thursday night. Drier weather arrives Friday and Saturday, though winds will become increasingly gusty with critical fire weather conditions likely.

The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Red Flag Warning for abundant lightning, which is in effect from 2 AM Thursday to 2 AM PDT Friday. A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued. This Fire Weather Watch for breezy winds and low humidity is in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday evening.

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

* Winds: Gusty and erratic outflow winds up to 35mph possible in any thunderstorms Thursday. Southwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph Saturday.

* Timing: For the Red Flag Warning, there is an isolated threat for lightning late tonight into Thursday morning. Scattered thunderstorms are then expected Thursday afternoon into early Friday morning. For the Fire Weather Watch, critical wind and humidity values are expected Saturday afternoon into Saturday evening.

* Relative Humidities: 14 to 26 percent Saturday.

* Temperatures: Up to 94 in the valleys Saturday.

* Lightning: A 5 to 10% chance of lightning overnight Wednesday night, with a 30% chance Thursday afternoon into Thursday night.

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