...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM THREAT SHIFTS NORTH FOR THE REST OF THE
DAY...
A low pressure system remains situated over the forecast area,
creating a wide swath of showers stretching from the Columbia
River Gorge all the way through the eastern mountains of Oregon as
of this morning. The current forecast calls for a resurgence of
thunderstorm activity once daytime heating initiates and
instability builds, primarily for the Oregon Columbia Basin
northward. The storm threat is expected to last into the evening
hours. Dry weather is expected for the previously warned zones
across central Oregon for the rest of the day.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 641 Lower Columbia Basin of
Oregon, 690 Kittitas Valley, 691 Lower Columbia Basin, 694
Yakama Alpine District and 695 East Washington South Central
Cascade Mountains.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated thunderstorms. Lightning activity
level of 2 to 3.
* OUTFLOW WINDS...35 to 45 mph. Thunderstorm outflow winds may
result in erratic fire spread.
* IMPACTS...Any lightning strikes combined with hot and dry
conditions could cause new fire starts.
* AFFECTED AREA...In Washington, Fire Weather Zone 634 Southern
Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Fire Weather Zone 635 Mt.
Adams Ranger District of the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms.
* OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts up to 40 mph possible.
* IMPACTS...Frequent lightning and critically dry fuels may
result in numerous fire starts. Thunderstorm outflow winds may
result in erratic fire spread.
* AFFECTED AREA...In Washington, Fire Weather Zone 636 Western
Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and Washington.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms.
* OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusts up to 40 mph possible.
* IMPACTS...Frequent lightning and critically dry fuels may
result in numerous fire starts. Thunderstorm outflow winds may
result in erratic fire spread.
Scattered thunderstorms containing little to no rainfall will be
possible over much of North Central Washington Wednesday
afternoon and evening. Any thunderstorms have the potential to
produce gusty outflow winds that could travel quite a distance
from the thunderstorm source. Isolated thunderstorms are possible
elsewhere across Eastern Washington and North Idaho.
The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Red Flag
Warning for thunderstorms, which is in effect from noon Wednesday
to midnight Wednesday night.
* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 707 Western Columbia Basin
and Fire Weather Zone 708 Eastern Columbia Basin - Palouse
-Spokane Area.
* Haines: High level haines of 6, which is very high. This means
very dry and unstable conditions exist.
* Humidity: 12 to 19 percent.
* Outflow Winds: Gusty and erratic winds are possible with any
thunderstorms that develop. Gusty winds from thunderstorms that
develop over the Cascades and north central Washington could
send an outflow boundary across the Columbia Basin, Palouse and
Spokane area.
* Thunderstorms: Thunderstorm coverage at this time looks to be
isolated across the Basin, Palouse and Spokane area.
* Impacts: Unstable conditions could lead to plume dominated
fires. Rapid fire spread with any new or existing fires due to
the gusty wind potential. These conditions may overwhelm
initial attack capabilities.
Scattered thunderstorms containing little to no rainfall will be
possible over much of North Central Washington Wednesday
afternoon and evening. Any thunderstorms have the potential to
produce gusty outflow winds that could travel quite a distance
from the thunderstorm source. Isolated thunderstorms are possible
elsewhere across Eastern Washington and North Idaho.
The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Red Flag
Warning for abundant lightning, which is in effect from 11 AM
Wednesday to midnight PDT Wednesday night. The Fire Weather Watch
is no longer in effect.
* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 696 East Washington Central
Cascades, Fire Weather Zone 697 East Portion of North Cascades
National Park/Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, Fire Weather
Zone 698 East Washington North Cascades, Fire Weather Zone 699
Okanogan Highlands and Kettle Mountains, Fire Weather Zone 702
Colville Reservation, Fire Weather Zone 703 Okanogan Valley,
Fire Weather Zone 704 Methow Valley, Fire Weather Zone 705
Foothills of Central Washington Cascades and Fire Weather Zone
706 Waterville Plateau.
* Thunderstorms: Scattered thunderstorms with abundant lightning,
LAL 6.
* Outflow Winds: Gusty and erratic winds are possible with any
thunderstorms that develop. The outflow winds could travel quite
a distance from the core of the storm.
* Impacts: Thunderstorms containing little to no rain combined
with dry fuels will lead to the potential for new fire starts
that may overwhelm initial attack capabilities. Gusty winds with
thunderstorms will result in rapid fire spread with any new or
existing fires.
...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM THREAT CONTINUES THROUGH THE EVENING...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 641 Lower Columbia Basin of
Oregon, 690 Kittitas Valley, 691 Lower Columbia Basin, 694
Yakama Alpine District and 695 East Washington South Central
Cascade Mountains.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated thunderstorms. Lightning activity
level of 2.
* OUTFLOW WINDS...35 to 45 mph. Thunderstorm outflow winds may
result in erratic fire spread.
* IMPACTS...Any lightning strikes combined with hot and dry
conditions could cause new fire starts.
* AFFECTED AREA...In Washington, Fire Weather Zone 634 Southern
Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Fire Weather Zone 635 Mt.
Adams Ranger District of the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms.
* IMPACTS...Lightning and critically dry fuels may result in
numerous fire starts. Thunderstorm outflow winds may result in
erratic fire spread.
* IMPACTS...Frequent lightning and critically dry fuels may
result in numerous fire starts. Thunderstorm outflow winds may
result in erratic fire spread.
* AFFECTED AREA...In Washington, Fire Weather Zone 636 Western
Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and Washington.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms.
* IMPACTS...Lightning and critically dry fuels may result in
numerous fire starts. Thunderstorm outflow winds may result in
erratic fire spread.
* IMPACTS...Frequent lightning and critically dry fuels may
result in numerous fire starts. Thunderstorm outflow winds may
result in erratic fire spread.
* WHAT...Hot conditions. High temperatures up to 102 degrees
accompanied by overnight lows in the mid to upper 60s. This will
pose a moderate to locally major risk of heat-related illness.
* WHERE...Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM PDT Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Heat will significantly increase the risk of
heat-related illnesses for those who are sensitive to heat,
especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration.
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions. High temperatures 98 to 102
degrees accompanied by overnight lows in the mid 60s to around 70.
This will pose a major risk of heat-related illness.
* WHERE...Kittitas Valley and Yakima Valley.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM PDT Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the risk of
heat-related illnesses for much of the population, especially
those who are heat sensitive and those without effective cooling
or adequate hydration.
* WHAT...Hot conditions. High temperatures up to 100 degrees
accompanied by morning lows in the mid 60s to lower 70s. This will
pose a moderate to locally major risk of heat-related illness.
* WHERE...Foothills of the Blue Mountains of Oregon and Washington,
Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington, John Day
Basin, North Central Oregon, and Simcoe Highlands.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM PDT this evening.
* IMPACTS...Heat will significantly increase the risk of
heat-related illnesses for those who are sensitive to heat,
especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 658 West Slopes of the North
Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Scattered thunderstorms with LAL 3 are
expected to develop along and near the crest of the Cascades
as early as late morning and most likely during the afternoon
and evening hours.
* OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusty and erratic winds are possible in the
vicinity of any thunderstorms that develop.
* IMPACTS...Scattered lightning in dry fuels can cause multiple
fire starts. Thunderstorms can also bring sudden sharp wind
shifts on existing fires, causing rapid changes in a fire's
rate of spread and direction of spread. Thunderstorm outflow
winds can be a threat for several hours following the start of
a new lightning-caused fire. If a fire were to begin, air
quality may diminish in the surrounding area.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 652 West Portion of the
Olympic Mountains and Fire Weather Zone 661 East Portion of
the Olympic Mountains.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Scattered thunderstorms with LAL 3 are
expected to develop early as late morning and most likely
during the afternoon and evening hours.
* OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusty and erratic winds are possible in the
vicinity of any thunderstorms that develop.
* IMPACTS...Scattered lightning in dry fuels can cause multiple
fire starts. Thunderstorms can also bring sudden sharp wind
shifts on existing fires, causing rapid changes in a fire's
rate of spread and direction of spread. Thunderstorm outflow
winds can be a threat for several hours following the start of
a new lightning-caused fire. If a fire were to begin, air
quality may diminish in the surrounding area.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 659 West Slopes of the
Central Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Scattered thunderstorms with LAL 3 are
expected to develop along and near the crest of the Cascades
as early as late morning and most likely during the afternoon
and evening hours.
* OUTFLOW WINDS...Gusty and erratic winds are possible in the
vicinity of any thunderstorms that develop.
* IMPACTS...Scattered lightning in dry fuels can cause multiple
fire starts. Thunderstorms can also bring sudden sharp wind
shifts on existing fires, causing rapid changes in a fire's
rate of spread and direction of spread. Thunderstorm outflow
winds can be a threat for several hours following the start of
a new lightning-caused fire. If a fire were to begin, air
quality may diminish in the surrounding area.
...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...
A low pressure system will continue to move north-northeastward
into the Pacific Northwest tonight through Wednesday night. This
system will provide enough moisture and elevated instability for
high-based showers and isolated thunderstorms to continue to
develop tonight through Wednesday.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 641 Lower Columbia Basin of
Oregon, 690 Kittitas Valley, 691 Lower Columbia Basin, 694
Yakama Alpine District and 695 East Washington South Central
Cascade Mountains.
* TIMING...11 PM through 5 PM.
* WINDS...North 5 to 10 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 13 percent.
* TEMPERATURES...Up to 101.
* IMPACTS...Any new fire starts will exhibit extreme fire
behavior. Current fire on landscape will also exhibit extreme
fire behavior.
* HAINES...As high as 6.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are
possible.
* OUTFLOW WINDS...35 to 40 mph.
* WHAT...Hot conditions during the day for the valleys. Highs 95 to
105. Overnight lows mainly in the upper 50s and 60s.
* WHERE...Portions of North and North Central Idaho and Central,
East Central, North Central, Northeast, and Southeast Washington.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM PDT Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Heat will increase the risk of heat-related illnesses,
especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration.
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions. Afternoon high temperatures of
95 to 105 degrees accompanied by overnight low temperatures in the
mid-60s to lower 70s. This will pose a major risk of heat-related
illness.
* WHERE...Kittitas Valley and Yakima Valley.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM PDT Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the risk of
heat-related illnesses for much of the population, especially
those who are heat sensitive and those without effective cooling
or adequate hydration.
* WHAT...Hot conditions. Afternoon high temperatures of 95 to 105
degrees accompanied by overnight low temperatures in the lower 60s
to lower 70s. This will pose a moderate to major risk of
heat-related illness.
* WHERE...Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM PDT Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Heat will significantly increase the risk of
heat-related illnesses for those who are sensitive to heat,
especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration.
* WHAT...Hot conditions. Afternoon high temperatures of 95 to 105
degrees accompanied by overnight low temperatures in the lower 60s
to lower 70s. This will pose a moderate to locally major risk of
heat-related illness.
* WHERE...In Oregon, Foothills of the Southern Blue Mountains of
Oregon and North Central Oregon. In Washington, Simcoe Highlands.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM PDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Heat will significantly increase the risk of
heat-related illnesses for those who are sensitive to heat,
especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration.
* WHAT...Hot conditions. Afternoon high temperatures of 95 to 105
degrees accompanied by overnight low temperatures in the lower 60s
to mid-70s. This will pose a moderate to locally major risk of
heat-related illness.
* WHERE...Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington,
Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon, and Foothills
of the Blue Mountains of Washington.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM PDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Heat will significantly increase the risk of
heat-related illnesses for those who are sensitive to heat,
especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration.
