Full Notification

The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms followed by wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 2 AM to 8 PM PDT Wednesday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 101 Northern and Central Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101), Fire Weather Zone 662 East Portion of North Cascades National Park/Lake Chelan National Recreational Area (Zone 662), Fire Weather Zone 684 East Washington Okanogan/Methow Valleys (Zone 684), Fire Weather Zone 685 East Washington North Cascades (Zone 685), Fire Weather Zone 686 East Washington Northeast (Zone 686) and Fire Weather Zone 687 East Washington Okanogan Highlands (Zone 687).

* Thunderstorms: Elevated early morning dry thunderstorms will be possible. Showers and thunderstorms will continue through the afternoon along the Canadian border.

* Winds: West-Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts to between 25 and 35 mph from late morning into afternoon. From Okanogan Highlands to the Northern Panhandle, the strongest gusts will be across the southern portions of these fire weather zones.

* Relative Humidities: 15 to 25 percent in the valleys and 25 to 40 percent over the higher terrain.

* Impacts: New fire starts with rapid spread possible from gusty winds.

* AFFECTED AREAS: IDAHO PALOUSE ... EAST PORTION OF NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK/LAKE CHELAN NATIONAL RECREATIONAL AREA ... OKANOGAN VALLEY ... NORTH CASCADES ... NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS ... OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS

Instructions:

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.