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

...HIGH-BASED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON 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 today. 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 through the remainder of this morning along the Washington Cascades and this afternoon for the northeast Blue Mountains.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 690 Kittitas Valley, 691 Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon, 691 Lower Columbia Basin of Washington and 703 Warm Springs Reservation.

* TIMING...From noon today to 10 PM PDT this evening.

* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts of 25 to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...15 to 25 percent in the afternoon.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. close