Red Flag Warning 7, NWS Spokane, WA

208 
WWUS86 KOTX 172153
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Spokane WA
253 PM PDT Mon Aug 17 2020

WAZ684-180000-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0007.000000T0000Z-200818T0200Z/
East Washington Okanogan/Methow Valleys (Zone 684)-
253 PM PDT Mon Aug 17 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR OKANOGAN AND METHOW
VALLEYS...

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 684 East Washington 
  Okanogan/Methow Valleys (Zone 684).

* Winds: For the Okanogan Valley, south wind 12 to 16 mph with
  gusts up to 22 mph.

* Relative Humidities: 11 to 15 percent.

* Impacts: The combination of low humidity levels and breezy 
  winds could lead to rapid fire development and 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 can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
307 AM PDT Mon Aug 17 2020

.SYNOPSIS...Hot and dry weather continues through Tuesday with
many places in the upper 90s and triple digits. There is a slight
chance for thunderstorms capable of gusty winds across southeast
Washington into the southern Panhandle, this evening and again for
Tuesday. Locally breezy winds will be found across central
Washington this afternoon and return on Tuesday. Temperatures
will gradually become more seasonal over the second half of the
week into next weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Quick update: Include a Red Flag warning for the Okanogan Valley
region for this afternoon and early evening for breezy southerly
winds and dry conditions. /rfox.

Today through Tuesday night: Hot and dry weather continues. The
ridge of high pressure responsible for the heat is anchored over
the NV/UT with it’s axis over north ID into western MT for
today. Mid and upper level moisture from the passing shortwave and
high based convection will linger over northeast Washington into
north Idaho this morning, then clearer skies are expected. The low
level thermal ridge will shift east slightly, leading to slight
cooling near the Cascade crest while heat continues if not gets
warmer for north Idaho. The current heat warnings and advisories
will continue. The cross Cascade pressure gradient will tighten,
and lead to an increase in southwest winds from the Cascade
valleys, across the western Columbia Basin and parts of the
Okanogan valley. This coupled with hot and dry conditions will
elevate fire concerns for this portion of central Washington. Will
be monitoring developing convection across Oregon this afternoon
as a weak shortwave rounds the upper ridge and brushes across
southeast Washington this evening. Instability will increase this
the evening with the arrival of the mid level moisture and could
see a return of spotty showers with gusty outflow winds and a
slight chance of lightning. The moisture lingers through the night
into Tuesday morning across southeast Washington into the southern
ID Panhandle, before exiting the region. On Tuesday, the upper
ridge axis shifts into western MT, and should bring a few degrees
of cooling across the Inland Northwest in daytime highs. Another
band of mid level moisture streams with a weak shortwave with a
return of convection chances across southeast WA into the southern
ID panhandle Tuesday afternoon and evening. Southwesterly winds
will pick across the region by Tuesday afternoon. /rfox.

Wednesday through Sunday: The combination of an upper level ridge
centered over Montana and a Gulf of Alaska low slowly drifting
eastward brings the Pacific Northwest into a west- southwesterly
flow. Temperatures trend cooler than the beginning of the week,
but still remain above normal with highs generally in the upper
80s to mid 90s. This pattern allows for chances of disturbances to
enter the area, but the risk is greatest near the Blues/Camas
Prairie area and lower Shoshone County on Wednesday and Thursday,
and for the Cascades Thursday through Saturday. This general
pattern also supports periodic gusty winds for the Cascades gaps
in the afternoon and evening hours. As the upper level trough
continues to progress eastward, models suggest that a dry cold
front will move through the region on Friday. Thursday and Friday
evening look to be the breeziest days across the Columbia Basin,
Palouse, and West Plains with gusts forecasted to be around 15-20
mph on Thursday and 25-30 mph on Friday. VMT

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAFS: High based showers will be tracking across the TAF
sites overnight. Gusty winds are possible with the potential for
VIS to 5SM with potential for some dust or haze across the Basin
and Palouse. Expect clearing skies by Monday morning. High cirrus
will increase by afternoon with VFR conditions. rfox.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Spokane       100  67  96  63  92  60 /  10  10  10  10   0   0
Coeur d'Alene  98  67  95  63  90  59 /  10  10   0  10   0   0
Pullman        98  64  94  60  89  56 /  10  20  10  20  10  10
Lewiston      104  74  98  71  95  67 /  10  20  10  20  10  10
Colville      100  59  98  55  94  53 /  20  10   0   0   0   0
Sandpoint      95  62  93  60  88  56 /  20  10  10  10   0   0
Kellogg        95  69  92  66  87  62 /  20  20  20  20  10   0
Moses Lake    103  66 100  61  95  60 /  10   0   0   0   0   0
Wenatchee     102  70  98  66  93  66 /  10   0   0   0   0   0
Omak          102  65  99  61  95  62 /  10   0   0   0   0   0

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...Heat Advisory until 8 PM PDT Tuesday for Central Panhandle
     Mountains-Coeur d'Alene Area-Idaho Palouse-Northern
     Panhandle.

     Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM PDT Tuesday for Lewis and
     Southern Nez Perce Counties-Lewiston Area.

WA...Heat Advisory until 8 PM PDT Tuesday for East Slopes Northern
     Cascades-Northeast Blue Mountains-Northeast Mountains-
     Okanogan Highlands.

     Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM PDT Tuesday for Lower Garfield
     and Asotin Counties-Moses Lake Area-Okanogan Valley-Spokane
     Area-Upper Columbia Basin-Washington Palouse-Waterville
     Plateau-Wenatchee Area.

     Red Flag Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to 7 PM PDT this
     evening for East Washington Okanogan/Methow Valleys (Zone
     684).

&&

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Spokane WA
538 AM PDT Sun Aug 16 2020

IDZ001>004-026-027-WAZ031>038-041>044-171830-
Northern Panhandle-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-
Moses Lake Area-Upper Columbia Basin-Spokane Area-
Northeast Mountains-Okanogan Highlands-Wenatchee Area-
East Slopes Northern Cascades-Okanogan Valley-Waterville Plateau-
538 AM PDT Sun Aug 16 2020

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

Record or near record heat is expected to begin across the region
today.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

Mid 90s to triple digit heat is expected continue for much of
eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle from through Tuesday.
Several consecutive days of heat will heighten the potential for
heat related illnesses for those that work outdoors and for people
who lack air conditioning.