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 11 PM PDT Saturday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Affected Area: Northern and Central Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101), Okanogan Highlands and Kettle Mountains (Zone 699), Selkirk Mountains of Northeast Washington (Zone 700) and Foothills of Northeast Washington (Zone 701).

* Winds: Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* Relative Humidities: 15 to 27 percent.

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