Red Flag Warning 23, NWS Spokane, WA

951 
WWUS86 KOTX 270410
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Spokane WA
910 PM PDT Wed Aug 26 2026

WAZ703-706-280300-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0023.260827T1900Z-260828T0300Z/
Okanogan Valley (Zone 703)-Waterville Plateau (Zone 706)-
910 PM PDT Wed Aug 26 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM PDT
THURSDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 703 AND 706...

* Affected Area: Okanogan Valley (Zone 703) and Waterville 
  Plateau (Zone 706). 

* Winds: Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* Relative Humidities: 19 to 25 percent.

* Impacts: Rapid fire spread is possible with any new or 
  ongoing fires. 

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.

&&

$$

048 
WWUS86 KOTX 270956
RFWOTX

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Spokane WA
256 AM PDT Thu Aug 27 2026

WAZ703-706-280300-
/O.CON.KOTX.FW.W.0023.260827T1900Z-260828T0300Z/
Okanogan Valley (Zone 703)-Waterville Plateau (Zone 706)-
256 AM PDT Thu Aug 27 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM PDT
THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 703 AND 706...

* Affected Area: Okanogan Valley (Zone 703) and Waterville 
  Plateau (Zone 706).

* Winds: Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, becoming
  northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph early Thursday 
  evening.

* Relative Humidities: 16 to 24 percent.

* Impacts: Rapid fire spread is possible with any new or 
  ongoing fires. 

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
1039 AM PDT Wed Aug 26 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Moderate HeatRisk continues Wednesday with highs in the mid
  to upper 90s.

- Breezy winds Wednesday into Thursday bringing elevated to
  locally critical fire weather conditions.

- Cooler temperatures and potential for mountain showers on
  Saturday.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Hot temperatures persist through Wednesday with highs in the
90s. The heat begins to break down Wednesday into Thursday with
breezy winds regionwide and isolated thunderstorm chances over
the mountains on Wednesday. Temperatures cool below normal for
the weekend with showers possible over the mountains.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Wednesday to Thursday: A changing weather pattern will be coming
to the Inland NW the next couple days, with isolated
shower/t-storm chances, some winds and elevated to critical fire
weather conditions. Today will remain hot, with highs in the 90s
and locally lower 100s before a cool down starts Thursday. A broad
trough sits off the coast and the southerly flow will carry a
deformation axis northward. That feature will couple with more
instability to bring isolated shower and thunderstorms. Some
models start to develop the risk near 9-11 AM near the
Spokane/C'dA area before lifting north, but the overall risk is
only near 10% in Spokane. Chances increase from 11 am to 8 pm
over the northeast mountains, but in general the models are only
show speckled isolated convection. It could be underdone. The
Storm Prediction Center was painting all north WA and the ID
Panhandle, clipping the eastern third of WA with the risk. This
overall is not expected to be much impact, but it will need
monitoring. Wind will be on the increase, especially near the
Cascades and central WA. Some breezy condition expected east
too, but the winds and dry RH value over central WA will lead to
elevated fire weather conditions. As we head into Thursday a
dry cold front and upper trough moves by, increasing winds
further bringing elevated to critical conditions throughout the
area. The most critical risk is over the Okanogan Valley south
in the afternoon, with winds 15-20 mph and gusts to 35 mph
possible, with dry RH. Active wildfires remain in that area and
some increase activity will be possible in this set-up. A fire
weather watch is in place for Thursday.

Friday to Tuesday: A transition to a cooler pattern comes
Friday and continues into the weekend, with highs below normal
in many areas. Some shower risk pushes up to the Cascade crest
on Friday, but overall it will be dry. Breezy conditions
continue periodically through this period. A passing disturbance
in the broader trough will bring some shower/t-storm chances
north Saturday. Friday and Saturday remain breezy, but elevated
fire weather conditions are less prominent at this time. Winds
subside some Sunday, then additional waves round in Monday and
Tuesday. Some shower chance push to the Cascade crest Monday and
into the northern mountains Tuesday. Winds will increase
slightly and RH value start to decrease so we will have to
monitor Monday and Tuesday for elevated fire weather conditions
over central WA with the dry and breezy conditions.
Temperatures cool to the 80s Friday and 70 this weekend, with
moderating slightly thereafter but still near to slightly below
normal. /Solveig

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAFs: A weak disturbance will bring mid and high level
clouds today. There will ACCAS that forms with weak instability
at mid levels primarily over the northern mountains and into the
Idaho Panhandle. Otherwise, deeper convection that builds is
expected to do so north and east of the region today. Afternoon
winds will be breezy, gusting near 15-20kts, starting up bit
later near EAT. Wildfire smoke will continue to impact airports
near the Cascades. Westerly winds is also expected to bring that
smoke more into KGEG/KSFF/KCOE by Thursday morning.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: High confidence
in VFR conditions except KEAT where smoke will linger. There is
moderate to high confidence for it to mix out by 20Z today, but
equally as confident for some and reduced visibility to return
overnight into Thursday morning. Smoke models also showing the
potential for MVFR conditions with smoke and haze into KGEG/KSFF-
KCOE by 15Z on Thursday. /SVH

-----------------------

Confidence descriptors:
Low - Less than a 30 percent chance
Moderate - 30 to 70 percent chance
High - Greater than a 70 percent chance

For additional probabilistic information for NWS Spokane
airports, please refer to the Aviation Dashboard on our
webpage: https:/www.weather.gov/otx/avndashboard

&&

.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs...
Spokane        93  62  85  53  80  51 /  10   0   0   0   0   0
Coeur d'Alene  95  60  85  53  79  51 /  10  10   0   0   0   0
Pullman        90  55  82  46  77  43 /  10  10   0   0   0  10
Lewiston       97  65  88  59  83  58 /  10   0   0   0   0  10
Colville       93  51  85  42  80  40 /  10  10   0   0   0   0
Sandpoint      94  56  83  47  76  44 /  20  10   0   0   0   0
Kellogg        95  58  83  53  77  50 /  20  20   0   0   0  10
Moses Lake     93  59  86  49  82  49 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Wenatchee      95  65  84  59  82  59 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Omak           95  58  87  52  83  52 /  10   0   0   0   0   0

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Heat Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Lower Garfield
     and Asotin Counties.

     Air Quality Alert until further notice for Chelan, Douglas,
     Okanogan Counties.

     Fire Weather Watch from Thursday afternoon through Thursday
     evening for Okanogan Valley (Zone 703)-Waterville Plateau
     (Zone 706).

ID...Heat Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Lewiston Area.

&&