Red Flag Warning 14, NWS Spokane, WA

861 
WWUS86 KOTX 162152
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Spokane WA
252 PM PDT Thu Aug 16 2018

...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED DRY THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY OVERNIGHT
TONIGHT AND FRIDAY FAR EASTERN ZONES...

...BREEZY CONDITIONS WITH LOW RH NEAR THE CASCADES FRIDAY 
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

.A surge of monsoonal moisture combined with an approaching
disturbance will bring isolated dry thunderstorms to extreme
eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle late Thursday night
and into Friday morning. This threat will end over the Palouse
and Spokane area and the northern Idaho Panhandle late Friday
morning. However, in the Idaho Panhandle mainly south of
Interstate 90 thunderstorms will become wetter during the day
Friday, but also increase in areal coverage to scattered.

In addition a dry cold front will produce breezy conditions with
low relative humidity through the Cascade gaps Friday afternoon 
and evening. 

IDZ101-170600-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0014.180817T0600Z-180818T0000Z/
Northern and Central Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101)-
252 PM PDT Thu Aug 16 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO
5 PM PDT FRIDAY FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101...

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 101 Northern and Central 
  Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101).

* Thunderstorms: Isolated Thunderstorms with little or no rain 
  will develop late tonight and continue into Friday morning 
  north of Interstate 90. The thunderstorm threat will continue 
  south of Interstate 90 through Friday afternoon with storms 
  becoming scattered and wetter during the afternoon.

* Outflow Winds: Local gusts to 30 mph tonight and to 40 mph
  Friday afternoon.

* Impacts: Lightning will efficiently ignite dry fuels around 
  the region.

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.

&&

$$

WAZ674-170600-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0014.180817T0600Z-180817T1800Z/
East Washington Palouse and Spokane Area (Zone 674)-
252 PM PDT Thu Aug 16 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO
11 AM PDT FRIDAY FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 674...

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 674 East Washington Palouse 
  and Spokane Area (Zone 674).

* Thunderstorms: Isolated Thunderstorms with little or no rain 
  will develop late tonight into Friday morning over the Palouse 
  region and Spokane area.

* Outflow Winds: Local gusts to 30 mph.

* Impacts: Lightning will efficiently ignite dry fuels around 
  the region.

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.

&&

$$

WAZ676-677-682-170600-
/O.NEW.KOTX.FW.A.0006.180817T2100Z-180818T0400Z/
East Washington South Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 676)-
East Washington Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 677)-
East Washington Central Cascade Mountains (Zone 682)-
252 PM PDT Thu Aug 16 2018

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE CENTRAL
CASCADES VALLEYS AND THE EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE MOUNTAINS...

The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Fire Weather
Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from
Friday afternoon through Friday evening.

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 676 East Washington South 
  Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 676)...Fire Weather Zone 677 
  East Washington Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 677) and Fire 
  Weather Zone 682 East Washington Central Cascade Mountains 
  (Zone 682).

* Winds: Increasing to west 15 to 20 mph Friday afternoon and
  continuing into Friday evening. In the Kittitas and Wenatchee
  Valleys evening gusts to 30 mph. 

* Relative Humidities: 15 to 22 percent during the afternoon and
  early evening. 

* Impacts: Breezy conditions and low relative humidities during
  the late afternoon and the evening recovery period will promote
  rapid fire spread of existing fires and any new fire starts. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.

&&

$$

955 
WWUS86 KOTX 170518
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1018 PM PDT Thu Aug 16 2018

...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED DRY THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY OVERNIGHT
TONIGHT AND FRIDAY FAR EASTERN ZONES...

...BREEZY CONDITIONS WITH LOW RH NEAR THE CASCADES FRIDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

.A surge of monsoonal moisture combined with an approaching
disturbance will bring isolated dry thunderstorms to extreme
eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle late Thursday night
and into Friday morning. This threat will end over the Palouse
and Spokane area and the northern Idaho Panhandle late Friday
morning. However, in the Idaho Panhandle mainly south of
Interstate 90 thunderstorms will become wetter during the day
Friday, but also increase in areal coverage to scattered.

In addition a dry cold front will produce breezy conditions with
low relative humidity through the Cascade gaps Friday afternoon
and evening.

IDZ101-171800-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0014.180817T0600Z-180818T0000Z/
Northern and Central Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101)-
1018 PM PDT Thu Aug 16 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT FRIDAY FOR
THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101...

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 101 Northern and Central 
  Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101).

* Thunderstorms: Isolated Thunderstorms with little or no rain 
  will develop late tonight and continue into Friday morning 
  north of Interstate 90. The thunderstorm threat will continue 
  south of Interstate 90 through Friday afternoon with storms 
  becoming scattered and wetter during the afternoon.

* Outflow Winds: Local gusts to 30 mph tonight and to 40 mph 
  Friday afternoon.

* Impacts: Lightning will efficiently ignite dry fuels around 
  the region.

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.

&&

$$

WAZ674-171800-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0014.180817T0600Z-180817T1800Z/
East Washington Palouse and Spokane Area (Zone 674)-
1018 PM PDT Thu Aug 16 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT FRIDAY FOR
THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 674...

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 674 East Washington Palouse 
  and Spokane Area (Zone 674).

* Thunderstorms: Isolated Thunderstorms with little or no rain 
  will develop late tonight into Friday morning over the Palouse 
  region and Spokane area.

* Outflow Winds: Local gusts to 30 mph.

* Impacts: Lightning will efficiently ignite dry fuels around 
  the region.

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.

&&

$$

WAZ676-677-682-171800-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.A.0006.180817T2100Z-180818T0400Z/
East Washington South Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 676)-
East Washington Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 677)-
East Washington Central Cascade Mountains (Zone 682)-
1018 PM PDT Thu Aug 16 2018

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE
CENTRAL CASCADES VALLEYS AND THE EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE
MOUNTAINS...

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 676 East Washington South 
  Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 676)...Fire Weather Zone 677 
  East Washington Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 677) and Fire 
  Weather Zone 682 East Washington Central Cascade Mountains 
  (Zone 682).

* Winds: Increasing to west 15 to 20 mph Friday afternoon and 
  continuing into Friday evening. In the Kittitas and Wenatchee 
  Valleys evening gusts to 30 mph.

* Relative Humidities: 15 to 22 percent during the afternoon and 
  early evening.

* Impacts: Breezy conditions and low relative humidities during 
  the late afternoon and the evening recovery period will 
  promote rapid fire spread of existing fires and any new fire 
  starts.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.

&&

$$

378 
WWUS86 KOTX 171023
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Spokane WA
323 AM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018

...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED DRY THUNDERSTORMS TODAY FAR EASTERN 
ZONES...

...BREEZY CONDITIONS WITH LOW RH NEAR THE CASCADES THIS 
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

.A surge of monsoonal moisture combined with an approaching
disturbance will bring isolated to scattered dry thunderstorms to
extreme eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle today. This 
threat will end over the Palouse and Spokane area and the northern
Idaho Panhandle late Friday morning. The threat for thunderstorms
will linger in the Idaho Panhandle mainly south of Interstate 90 
into the afternoon. Storms will also become wetter with time.

In addition a dry cold front will produce breezy conditions with
low relative humidity through the Cascade gaps Friday afternoon
and evening.

WAZ676-677-682-172000-
/O.UPG.KOTX.FW.A.0006.180817T2100Z-180818T0400Z/
/O.EXB.KOTX.FW.W.0014.180817T2200Z-180818T0400Z/
East Washington South Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 676)-
East Washington Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 677)-
East Washington Central Cascade Mountains (Zone 682)-
323 AM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM
PDT THIS EVENING FOR WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE 
WEATHER ZONES 676...677...682...

The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT 
this evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 676 East Washington South 
  Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 676)...Fire Weather Zone 677 
  East Washington Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 677) and Fire 
  Weather Zone 682 East Washington Central Cascade Mountains 
  (Zone 682).

* Winds: Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* Relative Humidities: 15 to 22 percent in the valleys and 20 to 
  30 percent over the higher terrain.

* Impacts: Breezy conditions and low relative humidities during 
  the late afternoon and the evening recovery period will 
  promote rapid fire spread of existing fires and any new fire 
  starts.

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.

&&

$$

IDZ101-172000-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-180818T0000Z/
Northern and Central Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101)-
323 AM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT THIS
AFTERNOON FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101...

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 101 Northern and Central 
  Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101).

* Thunderstorms: Isolated Thunderstorms with little or no rain 
  will develop late tonight and continue into Friday morning 
  north of Interstate 90. The thunderstorm threat will continue 
  south of Interstate 90 through Friday afternoon with storms 
  becoming scattered and wetter during the afternoon.

* Outflow Winds: Local gusts to 30 mph tonight and to 40 mph 
  Friday afternoon.

* Impacts: Lightning will efficiently ignite dry fuels around 
  the region.

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.

&&

$$

WAZ674-171800-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-180817T1800Z/
East Washington Palouse and Spokane Area (Zone 674)-
323 AM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS
MORNING FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 674...

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 674 East Washington Palouse 
  and Spokane Area (Zone 674).

* Thunderstorms: Isolated Thunderstorms with little or no rain 
  will develop late tonight into Friday morning over the Palouse 
  region and Spokane area.

* Outflow Winds: Local gusts to 30 mph.

* Impacts: Lightning will efficiently ignite dry fuels around 
  the region.

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.

&&

$$

536 
WWUS86 KOTX 171800
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1100 AM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018

...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED DRY THUNDERSTORMS TODAY FAR EASTERN
ZONES...

...BREEZY CONDITIONS WITH LOW RH NEAR THE CASCADES THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING...

.A surge of monsoonal moisture combined with an approaching
disturbance will bring isolated to scattered dry thunderstorms to
the Idaho Panhandle today. This threat has generally ended 
over the Palouse and Spokane area this morning. The threat for 
thunderstorms will linger in the Idaho Panhandle mainly south of 
Interstate 90 into the afternoon. Storms will also become wetter 
with time.

In addition a dry cold front will produce breezy conditions with
low relative humidity through the Cascade gaps this afternoon and
evening.

WAZ674-171900-
/O.EXP.KOTX.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-180817T1800Z/
East Washington Palouse and Spokane Area (Zone 674)-
1100 AM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR DRY THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM 
PDT THIS MORNING FOR EAST WASHINGTON PALOUSE AND SPOKANE AREA...

The threat for additional thunderstorms in the area has decreased
substantially, therefore the red flag warning will be allowed 
to expire.

$$

IDZ101-180000-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-180818T0000Z/
Northern and Central Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101)-
1100 AM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT THIS
AFTERNOON FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101...

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 101 Northern and Central 
  Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101).

* Thunderstorms: Isolated thunderstorms, mainly south of 
  Interstate 90. Storms should become scattered and wetter this 
  afternoon.

* Outflow Winds: Local gusts to 30 mph tonight and to 40 mph this
  afternoon.

* Impacts: Lightning will efficiently ignite dry fuels around 
  the region.

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.

&&

$$

WAZ676-677-682-180400-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0014.180817T2200Z-180818T0400Z/
East Washington South Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 676)-
East Washington Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 677)-
East Washington Central Cascade Mountains (Zone 682)-
1100 AM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
9 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 676, 677, AND 682...

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 676 East Washington South 
  Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 676)...Fire Weather Zone 677 
  East Washington Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 677) and Fire 
  Weather Zone 682 East Washington Central Cascade Mountains 
  (Zone 682).

* Winds: Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* Relative Humidities: 13 to 27 percent in the valleys and 27 to 
  40 percent over the higher terrain.

* Impacts: Breezy conditions and low relative humidities during 
  the late afternoon and the evening recovery period will 
  promote rapid fire spread of existing fires and any new fire 
  starts.

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.

&&

$$

213 
WWUS86 KOTX 180001
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Spokane WA
501 PM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018

...BREEZY CONDITIONS WITH LOW RH NEAR THE CASCADES THIS 
EVENING...

.A dry cold front will produce breezy conditions with low 
relative humidity through the Cascade gaps this evening.

IDZ101-180115-
/O.EXP.KOTX.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-180818T0000Z/
Northern and Central Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101)-
501 PM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 5 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR
THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 101...

Thunderstorms over the northern Idaho panhandle have ended for
this evening. Thus the Red Flag Warning has been allowed to
expire.

$$

WAZ676-677-682-180400-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-180818T0400Z/
East Washington South Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 676)-
East Washington Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 677)-
East Washington Central Cascade Mountains (Zone 682)-
501 PM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
676, 677, AND 682...

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 676 East Washington South 
  Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 676)...Fire Weather Zone 677 
  East Washington Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 677) and Fire 
  Weather Zone 682 East Washington Central Cascade Mountains 
  (Zone 682).

* Winds: Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* Relative Humidities: 20 to 27 percent in the valleys and 27 to 
  40 percent over the higher terrain.

* Impacts: Breezy conditions and low relative humidities during 
  the late afternoon and the evening recovery period will 
  promote rapid fire spread of existing fires and any new fire 
  starts.

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.

&&

$$

333 
WWUS86 KOTX 180354
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Spokane WA
854 PM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018



WAZ676-677-682-180500-
/O.EXP.KOTX.FW.W.0014.000000T0000Z-180818T0400Z/
East Washington South Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 676)-
East Washington Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 677)-
East Washington Central Cascade Mountains (Zone 682)-
854 PM PDT Fri Aug 17 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 676,
677, AND 682...

Gusty winds have developed over the warned area, but humidities
have risen above critical fire weather thresholds. Thus the red
flag warning will be allowed to expire.

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
253 AM PDT Thu Aug 16 2018

.SYNOPSIS...
Haze and smoke will continue through next week with temperatures
remaining above average. There will be a chance of thunderstorms
over southeast Washington and the Idaho Panhandle tonight and
Friday then mainly dry conditions are anticipated over the
weekend. Northerly winds will develop on Monday and could bring an
additional surge of Canadian smoke into the region.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Today through Friday night: This morning's satellite reveals an
abundance of midlevel moisture drifting into Southeastern WA and N
ID ahead of a weak trough limping toward the WA Coast. Despite
this moisture moving over our established thermal trof and
unstable lapse rates, there is no appreciable forcing mechanism.
We have yet to see a lightning strike since Wednesday evening and
current thinking is this will be the case through much of this
afternoon for much of my area. A closer examination of soundings
and thermodynamic parameters indicate a modest CIN layer that will
will not be overcome on the higher terrain of NE WA/Nrn ID.
Consequently, the small chance of thunderstorms has been removed
in these northern zones. Further south, the threat will be higher
with the main focus centered over NE Oregon and expanding/drifting
into the Blue Mtns and Camas Prairie during the afternoon/evening.
Otherwise, expect another hot and smokey afternoon with temperatures
warming back into the 90s accompanied by light winds.

We will see a weak push of westerly winds across the East Slopes
this evening as the incoming trough ushers a shallow marine layer
inland. Wind speeds of 10-15 mph will be possible with local gusts
to 20 mph but speeds look to remain below any critical thresholds
for fire weather highlights.

The trough will continue to limp inland overnight and into Friday.
Models have further slowed the feature which could delay
thunderstorm chances into SE WA and the Idaho Panhandle until well
after midnight. Hi-res models from the Univ of WA suggest closer
to 8AM Fri while members of the NAM bring scattered convection as
early as 1-5AM. Needless to say, there is still some uncertainty
with exact timing but as the trof approaches, increasing diffluent
flow aloft should provide increasing ascent into areas covered by
the fire weather watch supporting the idea for scattered dry
thunderstorms and lightning strikes. The threat will start after
midnight and continue into Friday afternoon. Dry subcloud layers
below 10K ft AGL will support the idea of dry thunderstorms
despite PWATS of 0.70-0.90. Any cells that become better organized
will need to be monitored closely for gusty outflow winds. A few
cells may drift as far west and north as Ritzville to Usk and
Sandpoint but as these cells move away from the better forcing
over SE WA and NE OR, they should have a hard time holding
together and weaken, yet something that will need to be monitored
and updated accordingly. /sb

The marine push will be a bit stronger Friday evening across the
Cascades with cross-Cascade pressure gradients will be closer to
8mb vs 5mb on Thursday. This will allow winds through the Cascade
Gaps to increase near 15-19 mph with gusts upwards of 25 mph or
locally stronger. This could lead to a few hours of critical
RH/wind thresholds just prior to sunset Friday morning. /sb

Saturday through Wednesday...Current models show a building upper
ridge just off the coast extending into southern British Columbia
over the weekend through Monday. A weak wave drops down from the
north clipping the north Idaho Panhandle Sunday aft/eve and then
the wave possibly closes off and forms a weak closed low over
Oregon. Confidence is low on where this will close off as models
often struggle with the placement of these lows. 12z GEFS/ECMWF
and 00z Canadian models show the potential for isolated showers
and thunderstorms over the mountains of northern WA and Idaho
Sunday afternoon/evening and then possibly down over the Blue
Mountains, Camas Prairie, and Central Panhandle Mountains Monday
into Tuesday given closer proximity to the closed low. Yet these
weak closed lows often have a mind of their own so the placement
and areas of convection will most likely change until models come
to a firm solution regarding the evolution of the low.

As the wave comes down from Canada Sunday night models show
increasing north-northeast winds over the area with breezy
conditions possible down the Okanogan Valley and through the
Purcell Trench. While smoke and haze will be in place prior to
these winds, the north to northeast winds could add more smoke
from Canada into the region. Smoke and haze are forecast to
continue each day until significant rain or strong westerly
winds materialize. 850mb temperatures of 21-25C for the early to
middle part of next week will bring continued above normal
temperatures. JW

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAFS: Haze and smoke will remain the biggest impact to TAF
sites, with MVFR/isolated VFR visibility. Periods of IFR vis at
KEAT is expected. Trended towards a persistence forecast with
moderate uncertainty in details. Middle to high clouds are moving
in from the south, with cigs around 15-20kft. The potential
elevated convection does not look to come into SE WA/central ID
(KPUW/KLWS) till aft 06Z Fri.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Spokane        93  67  90  61  87  61 /   0  10  20   0   0   0
Coeur d'Alene  93  62  89  58  86  57 /   0  10  20   0   0   0
Pullman        94  64  87  55  85  54 /  10  20  30  10   0   0
Lewiston      100  69  94  63  92  63 /  10  20  40  10   0   0
Colville       94  56  94  55  90  53 /   0   0  10  10   0  10
Sandpoint      89  53  88  51  85  50 /   0  10  20  10   0   0
Kellogg        91  58  87  56  83  53 /  10  10  20  10   0   0
Moses Lake     97  62  94  57  90  58 /   0   0  10   0   0   0
Wenatchee      95  67  92  64  90  65 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Omak           97  63  95  62  92  63 /   0   0  10   0   0   0

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...Fire Weather Watch from this evening through Friday morning for
     Northern and Central Idaho Panhandle (Zone 101).

WA...Fire Weather Watch from this evening through Friday morning for
     East Washington Palouse and Spokane Area (Zone 674).

&&

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Spokane WA
506 AM PDT Thu Aug 16 2018

IDZ001-WAZ034-035-037-038-041>044-171215-
Northern Panhandle-Moses Lake Area-Upper Columbia Basin-
Northeast Mountains-Okanogan Highlands-Wenatchee Area-
East Slopes Northern Cascades-Okanogan Valley-Waterville Plateau-
506 AM PDT Thu Aug 16 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Idaho...
Central Washington...East Central Washington...North Central
Washington and Northeast Washington.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

IDZ002>004-026-027-WAZ031>033-036-171215-
Coeur d'Alene Area-Idaho Palouse-Central Panhandle Mountains-
Lewiston Area-Lewis and Southern Nez Perce Counties-
Northeast Blue Mountains-Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties-
Washington Palouse-Spokane Area-
506 AM PDT Thu Aug 16 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Idaho...
North Central Idaho...Northeast Washington and Southeast
Washington.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

Isolated to scattered dry thunderstorms will be possible Thursday
night into Friday morning over Southeastern Washington and into
portions of the Idaho Panhandle. This may lead to new fire starts.