...DRY COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE SATURDAY... Critical fire weather conditions as a dry cold front moves through the region. Winds begin to rise Saturday afternoon, although mostly remain 15 to 20 mph with 25 to 30 mph gusts. At the same time, minimum RHs across the area are well below 20%, down to 10% in the high desert. Winds increase overnight as RHs begin to rise out. Winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are possible from Baker County through the Lower Treasure Valley overnight Saturday. These strong winds occur as RHs rise out of critical dryness, however active fire behavior may be observed even past the Red Flag Warnings due to the winds. The National Weather Service in Boise has issued a Red Flag Warning for winds and low relative humidities, which is in effect from 3 PM MDT /2 PM PDT/ to 9 PM MDT /8 PM PDT/ Saturday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.
* AFFECTED AREA...In Idaho, Fire Weather Zone 423 Owyhee Mountains. In Oregon, Fire Weather Zones 670 Burns BLM, 671 Steens Mountain and 672 Southern Grasslands.
* TIMING...From 3 PM MDT /2 PM PDT/ to 9 PM MDT /8 PM PDT/ Saturday.
* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...7 to 15 percent.
* TEMPERATURES...89 to 99 degrees.
* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
* AFFECTED AREAS: OWYHEE MOUNTAINS ... BURNS BLM ... STEENS MOUNTAIN ... SOUTHERN GRASSLANDS
