Red Flag Warning

...WIDESPREAD BREEZY WESTERLY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY SATURDAY...

...HIGH-BASED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT AND SATURDAY ALONG THE WASHINGTON CASCADES AND BLUE MOUNTAINS...

.An approaching low-pressure system will bring widespread breezy westerly winds through the Cascade gaps, across the Columbia Basin, and into portions of the Blue Mountains Saturday. Coupled with low relative humidity, this will lead to critical fire weather conditions. Moreover, high-based showers and thunderstorms are forecast, with the best chances of abundant lightning overnight through Saturday morning along the Washington Cascades and Saturday afternoon for the northeast Blue Mountains.

The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning for abundant lightning, which is in effect from 11 PM this evening to noon PDT Saturday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 695 East Washington South Central Cascade Mountains.

* TIMING...From 11 PM this evening to noon PDT Saturday.

* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to scattered coverage with abundant lightning.

* OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusty, erratic winds up to 40 mph.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.