NOAA Current Watches-OR

At 1125 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles south of Starkey, or 21 miles southwest of La Grande, moving northeast at 20 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... La Grande, Union, Island City, Cove, Imbler, Summerville, Hilgard, and Starkey.

At 834 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Phillips Reservoir, or 11 miles southwest of Baker City, moving northeast at 35 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Salisbury, Mason Dam, and Phillips Reservoir around 840 PM PDT. Baker City around 850 PM PDT. Flagstaff Hill around 900 PM PDT.

At 758 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Antlers Forest Service Station, or 25 miles west of Baker City, moving northeast at 40 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Antlers Forest Service Station around 800 PM PDT. Sumpter around 810 PM PDT.

At 529 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10 miles southeast of Ashwood, or 21 miles west of Mitchell, moving northeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Clarno.

* WHAT...High concentration of smoke particulates from numerous wild fires in Oregon and Northern California. * WHERE...Harney and Malheur Counties. * WHEN...Until at least 2 PM PDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Smoke can irritate the eyes, lungs and worsen some medical conditions. People most at risk to adverse health effects include infants, young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and pregnant women. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on weather. Check current conditions on the Oregon Smoke Information Blog, DEQ's Air Quality Index, or by downloading the free OregonAIR app on your smartphone.

...ABUNDANT LIGHTNING FOR TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... .A weak weather disturbance continues to rides up an upper ridge and over the region. This disturbance will also bring increasing unstable conditions across the eastern mountains, with a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms through Sunday morning. Any thunderstorms could produce abundant lightning leading to new fires starts. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 640 Central Mountains of Oregon, 642 Southern Blue and Strawberry Mountains, 644 Central Blue Mountains and 645 Wallowa District. * IMPACTS...Thunderstorms may produce abundant lightning leading to new fire starts. * THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to widely scattered. Lightning activity level of 2 to 3. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts as high as 50 mph are possible near thunderstorms.

* IMPACTS..Abundant lightning on dry fuels will increase the risk of new fire starts. Additionally, gusty outflow winds will allow for new and existing fires to grow rapidly. * AFFECTED AREA...Most areas from the Cascade crest east, including FWZs 285, 625, and eastern 624 roughly east of a line from Chemult to Bonanza. * THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms. Despite the wet nature of the thunderstorms, lightning strikes outside of precipitation cores are possible and cause for concern. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts up to 40 to 50 mph. These outflow winds can travel up to 50 miles away from the thunderstorm that caused it. * DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr

...ABUNDANT LIGHTNING FOR THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... .An upper level ridge of high pressure will begin to breakdown later today as a weak weather disturbance rides up the ridge and over the region. This disturbance will also bring increasing unstable conditions across the eastern mountains, with a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Thunderstorm chances increase and move northeastward tonight into Sunday morning. Any thunderstorms could produce abundant lightning leading to new fires starts. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 640 Central Mountains of Oregon, 642 Southern Blue and Strawberry Mountains, 644 Central Blue Mountains and 645 Wallowa District. * IMPACTS...Thunderstorms may produce abundant lightning leading to new fire starts. * THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to widely scattered. Lightning activity level of 2 to 3. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts as high as 50 mph are possible near thunderstorms.

* WHAT...Temperatures up to 103. * WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest and west central Idaho and southeast Oregon. * WHEN...Until midnight MDT tonight. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.

* WHAT...High concentration of smoke particulates from numerous wild fires in Oregon and Nothern California * WHERE...Harney and Malheur Counties. * WHEN...Until at least 2 PM PDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Smoke can irritate the eyes, lungs and worsen some medical conditions. People most at risk to adverse health effects include infants, young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and pregnant women. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on weather. Check current conditions on the Oregon Smoke Information Blog, DEQ's Air Quality Index, or by downloading the free OregonAIR app on your smartphone.

* IMPACTS..Abundant lightning on dry fuels will increase the risk of new fire starts. Additionally, gusty outflow winds will allow for new and existing fires to grow rapidly. * AFFECTED AREA...Most areas from the Cascade crest east, including FWZs 623, 624, 625, 284, 285. And west of the Cascade crest, FWZs 617 and 280. * THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms, with the greatest coverage expected later this afternoon. Despite the wet nature of the thunderstorms, lightning strikes outside of precipitation cores are possible and cause for concern. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts up to 40 to 50 mph. These outflow winds can travel up to 50 miles away from the thunderstorm that caused it. * DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY EVENING INTO SUNDAY MORNING... * Thunderstorms...Scattered. * Outflow Winds...Up to 60 MPH. * Timing...From 3 PM MDT /2 PM PDT/ this afternoon to 6 AM MDT /5 AM PDT/ Sunday.

...ABUNDANT LIGHTNING FOR THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... .An upper level ridge of high pressure will begin to breakdown later today as a weak weather disturbance rides up the ridge and over the region. This disturbance will also bring increasing unstable conditions across the eastern mountains, with a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Thunderstorm chances increase and move northeastward tonight into Sunday morning. Any thunderstorms could produce abundant lightning leading to new fires starts. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 640 Central Mountains of Oregon, 642 Southern Blue and Strawberry Mountains, 644 Central Blue Mountains and 645 Wallowa District. * IMPACTS...Thunderstorms may produce abundant lightning leading to new fire starts. * THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to widely scattered. Lightning activity level of 2 to 3. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts as high as 50 mph are possible near thunderstorms.

* IMPACTS..Abundant lightning on dry fuels will increase the risk of new fire starts. Additionally, gusty outflow winds will allow for new and existing fires to grow rapidly. * AFFECTED AREA...Most areas from the Cascade crest east, including FWZs 623, 624, 625, 284, 285. And west of the Cascade crest, FWZs 617 and 280. * THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms, with the greatest coverage anticipated Saturday afternoon. Despite the wet nature of the thunderstorms, lightning strikes outside of precipitation cores are possible and cause for concern. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts up to 40 to 50 mph. These outflow winds can travel up to 50 miles away from the thunderstorm that caused it. * DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Deschutes and Grant Counties...IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. A Smoke Air Quality Advisory has been issued. Wildfires burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes...runny nose...aggravate heart and lung diseases...and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition. For additional information...please visit the Web site at http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ

* WHAT...Temperatures up to 104 expected. * WHERE...Portions of southwest and west central Idaho and southeast Oregon. * WHEN...For the Excessive Heat Warning, until midnight MDT tonight. For the Heat Advisory, from midnight tonight to midnight MDT Saturday night. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.

...ABUNDANT LIGHTNING FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... .An upper level ridge of high pressure will begin to breakdown Saturday as a weak weather disturbance rides up the ridge and over the region, which will bring increasing unstable conditions across the eastern mountains, with a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Saturday thunderstorms could produce abundant lightning leading to new fires starts. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 645 Wallowa District. * IMPACTS...Thunderstorms may produce abundant lightning leading to new fire starts. * THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to widely scattered. Lightning activity level of 2 to 3. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts as high as 50 mph are possible on Saturday near thunderstorms.

...ABUNDANT LIGHTNING FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... .An upper level ridge of high pressure will begin to breakdown Saturday as a weak weather disturbance rides up the ridge and over the region, which will bring increasing unstable conditions across the eastern mountains, with a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Saturday thunderstorms could produce abundant lightning leading to new fires starts. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 640 Central Mountains of Oregon, 642 Southern Blue and Strawberry Mountains and 644 Central Blue Mountains. * IMPACTS...Thunderstorms may produce abundant lightning leading to new fire starts. * THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to widely scattered. Lightning activity level of 2 to 3. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts as high as 50 mph are possible on Saturday near thunderstorms.

...HOT, DRY, AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING... ...ABUNDANT LIGHTNING FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... .An upper level ridge of high pressure will remain over the region through today, producing hot and dry conditions. A weak weather disturbance riding up the ridge and over the region will bring increasing unstable conditions across the eastern mountains, with a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Saturday thunderstorms could produce abundant lightning leading to new fires starts. ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM SATURDAY TO 7 AM PDT SUNDAY FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES OR640, OR642, AND OR644... * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 640 Central Mountains of Oregon, 642 Southern Blue and Strawberry Mountains and 644 Central Blue Mountains. * TIMING...Now through mid evening Friday and again Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning. * WINDS...Northwest 5 to 10 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent. * TEMPERATURES...Up to 100 for Friday and high 90s Saturday. * IMPACTS...The combination of hot, dry and unstable conditions may lead to extreme fire behavior Friday. Abundant lighting on Saturday could lead to new fire starts. * HAINES...As high as 6. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts as high as 50 mph are possible on Saturday near thunderstorms.

...HOT, DRY, AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING... ...ABUNDANT LIGHTNING FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... .An upper level ridge of high pressure will remain over the region through today, producing hot and dry conditions. A weak weather disturbance riding up the ridge and over the region will bring increasing unstable conditions across the eastern mountains, with a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Saturday thunderstorms could produce abundant lightning leading to new fires starts. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 645 Wallowa District. * WINDS...Northwest 5 to 10 mph. * IMPACTS...Thunderstorms may produce abundant lightning leading to new fire starts. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts as high as 50 mph are possible on Saturday near thunderstorms.