Red Flag Warnings are active across Washington State from the Olympic Mountains to the Palouse on Thursday, as a wave of dry lightning and thunderstorm outflow winds creates prime conditions for new wildfire ignitions across a state whose fire resources are already stretched heading into peak summer fire season.
The Cascades and Olympics: Through 11 PM Tonight
The NWS Seattle office issued a Red Flag Warning through 11 PM PDT Thursday for the Olympic Mountains (western and eastern portions), the West Slopes of the North Cascades above 1,500 feet and the West Slopes of the Central Cascades above 1,500 feet. Scattered lightning in dry fuels can cause multiple simultaneous fire starts, the Seattle office warned. Outflow winds from any storm that develops will be capable of gusty and erratic gusts between 35 and 50 mph — “causing rapid changes in a fire’s rate of spread and direction of spread.”
The NWS Seattle office added a notable forward-looking caution: “Any fires that develop will likely spread quickly.” Very warm weather arriving Friday into next week significantly increases the chances of fire activity from any lightning ignitions that occur Thursday but are not immediately detected or contained.
Eastern Washington: Foothills, Palouse and Spokane Area
The NWS Spokane office has Red Flag Warnings in effect for three eastern Washington zones through 11 PM PDT. The Foothills of Northeast Washington, Eastern Columbia Basin, Palouse and Spokane area face isolated to scattered thunderstorms from the late afternoon through the evening, with erratic outflow wind gusts up to 60 mph. The Lower Palouse-Snake River zone (southeast Palouse country) is under a warning from 1 PM through 11 PM for the same mix of wet and dry thunderstorms.
The Colville Reservation and Okanogan Highlands/Kettle Mountains are under warnings through 11 PM for isolated to scattered thunderstorms with outflow winds of 20 to 40 mph.
The Okanogan Valley and Methow Valley are under Red Flag Warnings through either 11 AM or 11 PM depending on the zone, with both receiving Fire Weather Watches for Friday afternoon and evening — the Okanogan for thunderstorms, the Methow for wind and low humidity (11 to 17 percent) — as southerly winds increase to 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.
Eastern Cascades: Warnings Expiring This Morning
The NWS Pendleton office has Red Flag Warnings expiring at 10 AM PDT for the Kittitas Valley, the East Washington South Central Cascade Mountains, the Lower Columbia Basin of Washington and the Yakama Alpine District — which includes Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and North Cascades National Park. These warnings were issued for abundant lightning from overnight storms, with outflow winds of 25 to 45 mph.
What Residents and Visitors Must Do
No outdoor burning anywhere in the warned zones. No campfires even in established fire rings if you are in a warned area. Avoid parking vehicles on dry grass, dragging tow chains, or using any equipment that throws sparks. Report any smoke sighting immediately by calling 911 — early detection is critical when a lightning-caused fire in remote terrain can burn for hours before crews arrive. Monitor conditions at weather.gov/otx and weather.gov/sew.
