Washington Severe Red Flag Warning | Effective 07/16/2026 20:50

...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST THURSDAY NIGHT... ...GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS OKANOGAN, METHOW VALLEYS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING... ...GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS WATERVILLE PLATEAU FRIDAY AFTERNOON SHIFTING TO WESTERLY IN THE EVENING... .Additional showers and storms will redevelop tonight for much of the Inland Northwest. Gusty outflow winds around 30 mph will be possible with this activity. Rainfall amounts up to a tenth of an inch are possible, with locally higher amounts where multiple storms move over the same area. Dry and breezy conditions will develop in portions of central Washington Friday afternoon. A sharp wind shift from south to west will impact the Waterville Plateau Friday evening. The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms, which is in effect from noon to 9 PM PDT Friday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * Affected Area: Methow Valley (Zone 703). * Thunderstorms: Scattered thunderstorms possible overnight into Friday morning. Rainfall amounts up to a tenth of an inch possible, with locally higher amounts where multiple storms move over the same area. * Outflow Winds: Gusty and erratic thunderstorm outflow winds up to 30 mph will be possible through Friday morning. * Prevailing Winds Friday Afternoon and Evening: Breezy southeast winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. * Humidity: 13 to 19 percent Friday afternoon. * Impacts: New fire starts from lightning. New and existing fires could be impacted by gusty thunderstorm outflow winds tonight into Friday morning. Gusty winds and low humidity Friday afternoon may lead to rapid fire spread with any new or ongoing fires.