Washington Severe Fire Weather Watch | Effective 08/20/2026 15:17

Headline: 
Fire Weather Watch issued August 20 at 3:17PM PDT until August 23 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Event: 
Fire Weather Watch
Urgency: 
Future
Effective: 
August 20, 2026 - 3:17pm
Expires: 
August 21, 2026 - 3:00am
Description: 
...THUNDERSTORMS, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY... .A strong trough with abundant moisture will usher in a cold front through the region from Saturday into Sunday. There is a risk for thunderstorms as well as strong south to southwest synoptic driven winds. This will lead to critical fire weather conditions across the region. * Affected Area: Okanogan Valley (Zone 703). * Thunderstorms: Scattered showers and thunderstorms Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning. * Timing of Thunderstorms: Best chances for thunderstorms are from 11 AM Saturday morning through 8 AM Sunday morning. * Outflow Winds: Gusty outflow wind gusts up to 50 mph. * Impacts: Lightning strikes will have the potential to start new fires, and gusty and erratic outflow winds could cause dangerous conditions around new and existing wildfires. * General Winds: South winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts around 30 to 40 mph. * Timing of General Winds: Peak general winds will be seen from noon to 10 PM Saturday. * Relative Humidities: 20 to 25 percent. * Impacts: Rapid fire spread is possible with any new or ongoing fires.
Instruction: 
A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.
Area Description: 
Okanogan Valley
Forcast Office: 
NWS Spokane WA
Sender: 
w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov