Red Flag Warning 8, NWS Pendleton, OR

115 
WWUS86 KPDT 232126
RFWPDT

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
226 PM PDT THU AUG 23 2012

...DRY AND WINDY ACROSS THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN...

.A DRY COLD FRONT HAS BROUGHT BREEZY WINDS ACROSS THE LOWER
COLUMBIA BASIN THIS AFTERNOON. MANY AREAS ARE REPORTING SUSTAINED
WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS...AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY HAS
FALLEN TO AROUND 20 TO 25 PERCENT. THESE DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS
WILL LAST THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.

ORZ631-WAZ631-675-240600-
/O.CON.KPDT.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120824T0600Z/
COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON-LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON-
EASTERN WASHINGTON SOUTHERN COLUMBIA BASIN-
226 PM PDT THU AUG 23 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY ACROSS FIRE WEATHER
ZONES OR631...WA631 AND WA675...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS
EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...IN OREGON...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 631 COLUMBIA 
  BASIN OF OREGON. IN WASHINGTON...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 631 LOWER 
  COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 675 EASTERN 
  WASHINGTON SOUTHERN COLUMBIA BASIN. 

* TIMING...WINDS HAVE ALREADY INCREASED THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL
  REMAIN BREEZY THROUGH THE EVENING.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 17 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF WINDS... LOW HUMIDITY... AND 
  CRITICALLY DRY FUELS MAY RESULT IN RAPID FIRE SPREAD. 

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 WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON (ALL LOWER CASE)

449 
WWUS86 KPDT 240318
RFWPDT

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
818 PM PDT THU AUG 23 2012


ORZ631-WAZ631-675-240430-
/O.CAN.KPDT.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120824T0600Z/
COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON-LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON-
EASTERN WASHINGTON SOUTHERN COLUMBIA BASIN-
818 PM PDT THU AUG 23 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY ACROSS FIRE WEATHER ZONES OR631...WA631 AND WA675...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PENDLETON HAS CANCELLED THE RED
FLAG WARNING. 

WINDS ARE DECREASING THIS EVENING AND HUMIDITIES ARE RISING.

$$

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON (ALL LOWER CASE)

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
835 AM PDT THU AUG 23 2012

.SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY...LITTLE CHANGE IN FORECAST
FROM PREVIOUS SHIFT.  HAVE ADDED SMOKE FOR FIRE WEST OF YAKIMA AND
EXTREME NE OREGON NEAR SNAKE RIVER. UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVING
THROUGH BRITISH COLUMBIA WITH TRAILING SURFACE DRY COLD FRONT MOVING
ACROSS AREA TODAY WITH INCREASING WINDS. THE DRIER AIR AND
DECREASING WINDS TONIGHT WILL ALLOW COOLER TEMPERATURES OVERNIGHT
WITH SOME AREAS IN CENTRAL OREGON FALLING TO NEAR OR SLIGHTLY BELOW
FREEZING.  WILL EVALUATE NEED FOR FREEZE WARNING LATER TODAY.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...AS A COLD FRONT MOVES INLAND TODAY WESTERLY WINDS
WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN. MANY AREAS WILL SEE
SUSTAINED WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS...AND RELATIVE
HUMIDITY WILL FALL BELOW 20 PERCENT. THESE DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS
WILL LAST THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS AND A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN
ISSUED FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES OR/WA 631 AND WA 675 THROUGH 11 PM.
PLEASE REFER TO NWS PRODUCT PDXRFWPDT FOR MORE DETAILS.  TRIMARCO

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 403 AM PDT THU AUG 23 2012/

SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY...A UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL
MOVE ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE MAIN CONCERN
TODAY AND TONIGHT WILL BE INCREASING WINDS AND DRY RELATIVE HUMIDITY
(RH) ASSOCIATED WITH A DRY COLD FRONT MOVING ACROSS THE FORECAST
AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. THE DAY SHIFT FIRE WEATHER
FORECASTER WILL EVALUATE THE COMBINATION OF BREEZY WINDS AND LOW RH
WHICH MAY REQUIRE A RED FLAG WARNING FOR SOME LOWER ELEVATIONS. THE
COLD FRONT WILL BRING A COOL DOWN TODAY AND FRIDAY. THE TROUGH EXITS
THE FORECAST AREA INTO IDAHO/MONTANA SOON AFTER DAY BREAK ON FRIDAY
WITH AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE POISED OFFSHORE TO BUILD TOWARD THE COAST
ON FRIDAY AND THEN BUILD OVER THE INTERIOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST ON
SATURDAY FOR HIGH TEMPERATURES WARMING BACKUP TO ABOVE NORMAL FOR
SATURDAY.  POLAN

LONG TERM...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE
WILL MOVE INTO IDAHO SATURDAY NIGHT. SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
MORNING THE GFS HAS AN UPPER LEVEL LOW DRIFTING OFF THE COAST AS A
BLOCKING HIGH REMAINS OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST. THE ECMWF BRINGS
THE LOW INTO BRITISH COLUMBIA MONDAY. EITHER SOLUTION WILL KEEP THE
CWA DRY EXCEPT FOR A FEW SHOWERS IN THE WASHINGTON CASCADES. DID NOT
CHANGE TEMPERATURE FORECASTS THAT WERE TRENDED TO SLOWER AND WARMER
GFS BECAUSE IT IS MORE REASONABLE THAT THE RIDGE WILL PERSIST.
COONFIELD

AVIATION...12Z TAFS. CLEAR SKIES THE NEXT 24 HOURS. LIGHT WINDS
LESS THAN 10KT...THEN INCREASING WESTERLY WINDS BECOMING 10-20KT
G30KT BY AFTERNOON.  76

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT  80  47  78  46 /   0   0   0   0
ALW  81  52  79  52 /   0   0   0   0
PSC  82  49  80  48 /   0   0   0   0
YKM  82  48  81  50 /   0   0   0   0
HRI  82  49  80  46 /   0   0   0   0
ELN  77  46  77  49 /   0  10   0   0
RDM  78  35  77  40 /   0   0   0   0
LGD  80  43  74  40 /   0   0   0   0
GCD  80  46  77  46 /   0   0   0   0
DLS  77  50  82  52 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING
     ORZ041-042-044-503-507-508.

WA...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING
WAZ024-026>029-521.

&&

THREAT INDEX
TODAY : YELLOW
FRIDAY : GREEN
SATURDAY : GREEN

GREEN: NONE OR LIMITED NEED FOR WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES.
YELLOW: A FEW WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES POSSIBLE OR IN EFFECT.
RED: NUMEROUS WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES POSSIBLE OR IN EFFECT.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT...
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON

79/76/76

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
615 AM PDT THU AUG 23 2012

ORZ041-042-044-049-050-502-503-505>509-WAZ024-026>030-520-521-
241215-
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON-NORTH CENTRAL OREGON-
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON-GRANDE RONDE VALLEY-WALLOWA COUNTY-
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-JOHN DAY BASIN-OCHOCO-
JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS-
FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES-
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF WASHINGTON-KITTITAS VALLEY-
YAKIMA VALLEY-LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON-
FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON-
NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON-
EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES-SIMCOE HIGHLANDS-
615 AM PDT THU AUG 23 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON
AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SMOKE
     NORTH CENTRAL OREGON, EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES, JOHN
     DAY BASIN, OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS

SMOKE FROM WILDFIRES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON WILL
CONTINUE TO CAUSE AREAS OF REDUCED VISIBILITY AND DEGRADED AIR
QUALITY IN JEFFERSON, DESCHUTES, AND CROOK COUNTIES THROUGH TONIGHT
AND INTO FRIDAY MORNING.

THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE INTERIOR
PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND BRING A COOLER AIR MASS RESULTING IN A BRIEF
COOL DOWN WITH DAYTIME HIGHS TODAY 4-8 DEGREES COOLER THAN NORMAL.

DUE TO INCREASING PRESSURE GRADIENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONT,
BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS WILL SPREAD FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AND ADJACENT VALLEYS THIS AFTERNOON WITH BREEZY
TO WINDY CONDITIONS CONTINUING THROUGH THIS EVENING. WINDS WILL
DIMINISH OVERNIGHT AS PRESSURE GRADIENTS RELAX WITH WINDS BECOMING
DOWN SLOPE/DOWN VALLEY DRAINAGE WINDS LATE TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

A MID/UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE REGION
OVER THE WEEKEND THUS PRODUCING SUBSIDENCE AND A WARMING TREND
LASTING AT LEAST THROUGH MONDAY. OTHERWISE, WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL
PRODUCE DRY AND STABLE CONDITIONS THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

GRAPHICAL FORECASTS OF WEATHER HAZARDS OUT TO SEVEN DAYS
ARE DISPLAYED ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT:

WWW.WRH.NOAA.GOV/PDT/CURRENTHAZARDS/HWO.HTML

ALL LETTERS IN THE ABOVE URL ARE LOWER CASE.

POLAN