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 AM to 11 PM PDT Saturday.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 692 Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon and 692 Blue Mountains of Washington.

* TIMING...From 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Saturday.

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

* OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusty, erratic winds of 40 to 60 mph.

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