DRY THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED FOR CENTRAL OREGON TODAY, FOLLOWED BY DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND THROUGH THE KITTITAS VALLEY WEDNESDAY. .A ridge of high pressure overhead is inducing hot and dry conditions across the region. Dry thunderstorms have already initiated this afternoon across central Oregon. The ridge of high pressure is anticipated to break down further on Wednesday, with west winds picking up through the Cascade gaps. With RHs having little time to recover from the heat, this will lead to critical fire weather conditions across the Kittitas Valley and into the Columbia Basin. The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 2 PM to 9 PM PDT Wednesday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA. Fire Weather Zone 691 Lower Columbia Basin of Washington. * TIMING. From 2 PM to 9 PM PDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS. Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. * WINDS. West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY. As low as 10 percent.
