Thunderstorm, air quality alerts issued for Central WA
SPOKANE – The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for thunderstorms beginning late Saturday afternoon for the western Columbia Basin, Waterville Plateau, and foothills of the central Washington Cascades range.
The warning is in effect from 4 p.m. Saturday to 3 a.m. Sunday, the weather service reported.
The scattered thunderstorms are not expected to produce much rain – between a trace and 0.15 of an inch – but may be accompanied by gusty and erratic winds up to 40 mph.
During the evening and overnight hours, the storms pose potential for “abundant lightning” with strikes likely to start new fires, the advisory stated. “Gusty outflow winds may lead to fire spread with new or existing fires,” the weather service said, noting that current warm temperatures and low humidity could contribute to “extreme fire behavior.”
Existing regional wildfires have produced smokey haze across much of central and eastern Washington. Poor air quality prompted the postponement of several high school football games in the Yakima Valley Friday evening, with hopes of improvement Saturday to allow the games to be played.
The Northwest Large Fire Map shows three actives fires – all caused by lightning -- in the central Cascade mountains: the Pomas Fire (3,500 acres) west of the upper end of Lake Chelan; the Sugarloaf Fires (9,000 acres) northwest of Entiat; and the Labor Mountain Fire (1,100 acres) between Leavenworth and Cle Elum. All are located in rugged terrain not easily accessed by vehicles.
The Washington Department of Ecology currently deems air quality in the region to be unhealthy and recommends that people spend limited time outside and avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
Some relief may be in sight next week. The National Weather Service is forecasting cooler temperatures and rain showers in the region beginning on Tuesday.
