WWUS86 KOTX 230438 RFWOTX URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Spokane WA 938 PM PDT Sat Aug 22 2026 ...THUNDERSTORMS, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY... .A cold front will move through the region Saturday into Sunday, bringing a risk for thunderstorms and strong west to southwest winds. This will lead to critical fire weather conditions across the region. WAZ702-705>707-709-230545- /O.EXP.KOTX.FW.W.0022.000000T0000Z-260823T0500Z/ Colville Reservation (Zone 702)- Foothills of Central Washington Cascades (Zone 705)- Waterville Plateau (Zone 706)-Western Columbia Basin (Zone 707)- Lower Palouse - Snake River (Zone 709)- 938 PM PDT Sat Aug 22 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 702, 705, 706, 707, AND 709... The threat has ended. $$ WAZ696>699-704-230700- /O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0022.000000T0000Z-260823T0700Z/ East Washington Central Cascades (Zone 696)- East Portion of North Cascades National Park/Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (Zone 697)- East Washington North Cascades (Zone 698)- Okanogan Highlands and Kettle Mountains (Zone 699)- Methow Valley (Zone 704)- 938 PM PDT Sat Aug 22 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT PDT TONIGHT FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 696, 697, 698, 699, AND 704... * Affected Area: East Washington Central Cascades (Zone 696), East Portion of North Cascades National Park/Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (Zone 697), East Washington North Cascades (Zone 698), Okanogan Highlands and Kettle Mountains (Zone 699) and Methow Valley (Zone 704). * Thunderstorms: Scattered showers and thunderstorms Saturday. * Outflow Winds: Gusty outflow wind gusts up to 50 mph. * Impacts: Lightning strikes will have the potential to start new fires, and gusty and erratic outflow winds could cause rapid spread of new and existing wildfires. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. && $$ IDZ101-WAZ700-231245- /O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0022.000000T0000Z-260823T1800Z/ Northern and Central Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101)- Selkirk Mountains of Northeast Washington (Zone 700)- 938 PM PDT Sat Aug 22 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT SUNDAY FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 101 AND 700... * Affected Area: Northern and Central Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101) and Selkirk Mountains of Northeast Washington (Zone 700). * Thunderstorms: Scattered showers and thunderstorms Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning. * Outflow Winds: Gusty outflow wind gusts up to 50 mph. * Impacts: Lightning strikes will have the potential to start new fires, and gusty and erratic outflow winds could cause rapid spread of new and existing wildfires. 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. && $$ WAZ703-230700- /O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0022.000000T0000Z-260823T0700Z/ Okanogan Valley (Zone 703)- 938 PM PDT Sat Aug 22 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT PDT TONIGHT FOR THUNDERSTORMS, WIND, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 703... * Affected Area: Okanogan Valley (Zone 703). * Thunderstorms: Scattered showers and thunderstorms Saturday. * Outflow Winds: Gusty outflow wind gusts up to 50 mph. * Impacts: Lightning strikes will have the potential to start new fires, and gusty and erratic outflow winds could cause rapid spread of new and existing wildfires. * General Winds: South winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph Saturday afternoon and evening. * Relative Humidities: 20 to 25 percent. * Impacts: Lightning strikes will have the potential to start new fires, and gusty and erratic outflow winds could cause rapid spread of new and existing wildfires. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. && $$ WAZ701-708-231200- /O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0022.000000T0000Z-260823T1200Z/ Foothills of Northeast Washington (Zone 701)- Eastern Columbia Basin - Palouse - Spokane Area (Zone 708)- 938 PM PDT Sat Aug 22 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM PDT SUNDAY FOR THUNDERSTORMS, WIND, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 701 AND 708... * Affected Area: Foothills of Northeast Washington (Zone 701) and Eastern Columbia Basin -Palouse -Spokane Area (Zone 708). * Winds: Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. * Relative Humidities: 17 to 25 percent. * Thunderstorms: Isolated to scattered lightning will occur in two rounds. The first one will occur between 2 PM and 5 PM with the second round between 10 PM and 5 AM. Gusty outflow winds are expected near thunderstorms. * Outflow Winds: Gusty outflow wind gusts up to 50 mph. * Impacts: Rapid fire spread is possible with any new or ongoing fires. Lightning strikes will have the potential to start new fires with gusty outflow winds. 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. && $$