Red Flag Warning

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

A ridge breakdown will first bring a threat for thunderstorms across portions of central and north-central Washington today and tonight. Drier weather arrives Friday and Saturday, though winds will become increasingly gusty with critical fire weather conditions likely.

* 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 a threat for lightning 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 late Saturday morning 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 Thursday morning, 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.