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: Waterville Plateau (Zone 706) and Western Columbia Basin (Zone 707).

* Winds: Southwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph Friday. Saturday, southwest winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* Timing: Friday and Saturday afternoons.

* Relative Humidities: 13 to 23 percent Friday, 15 to 26 percent Saturday.

* Temperatures: Up to 98 Friday, and up to 94 Saturday.

* Impacts: Gusty winds and low humidity Friday and Saturday afternoons may lead to rapid fire spread with any new or ongoing fires.