Fire Weather Watch

...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: Colville Reservation (Zone 702).

* Winds: Gusty and erratic outflow winds up to 35 mph possible in any thunderstorms Thursday. Southwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph Friday. Saturday, southwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* Timing: For the Red Flag Warning, scattered thunderstorms are then expected Thursday afternoon into early Friday morning. For the Fire Weather Watch, critical wind and humidity values are expected Friday and Saturday afternoons.

* Relative Humidities: 15 to 23 percent Friday, 17 to 27 percent Saturday.

* Temperatures: Up to 98 Friday.

* Lightning: A 5% chance of lightning Thursday morning, with a 30% chance Thursday afternoon into Thursday night. The greater chances for lightning will be across the northern portions of the zone.

* 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