Red Flag Warning

...PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION (PDS) RED FLAG IN EFFECT 2PM UNTIL 8PM SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS: OKANOGAN VALLEY (ZONE 703) - COLVILLE RESERVATION (ZONE 702) - WATERVILLE PLATEAU (ZONE 706) - WESTERN COLUMBIA BASIN (ZONE 707) - EASTERN COLUMBIA BASIN (ZONE 708) AND LOWER PALOUSE AND SNAKE RIVER (ZONE 709). WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH COMBINED WITH HUMIDITY LEVELS OF 15 TO 20 PERCENT WILL CREATE EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS...

A strong cold front will sweep across the Inland Northwest this Saturday. Very warm conditions, dry conditions and gusty winds will contribute to rapid fire spread for any new or ongoing fires.

The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 11 AM to 8 PM PDT Saturday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Affected Area: East Washington Central Cascades (Zone 696), East Portion of North Cascades National Park/Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (Zone 697) and East Washington North Cascades (Zone 698).

* Winds: West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* Relative Humidities: 15 to 30 percent in the valleys and 30 to 53 percent over the higher terrain. Higher relative humidity expected near the Cascade crest over the higher terrain.

* Impacts: Rapid fire spread is expected with any new or ongoing fires.