LIGHTNING IN AND NEAR CASCADES TODAY THROUGH MONDAY. Additional rounds of thunderstorms will develop this afternoon through Monday over the east slopes of the Cascades to the Okanogan Highlands. Abundant lightning with frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes is expected. Thunderstorms will also bring the potential for strong outflow winds. Lightning is expected to result in new fire starts and outflow winds may result in rapid fire spread of any new or ongoing fires. * Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 696 East Washington Central Cascades (Zone 696), Fire Weather Zone 697 East Portion of North Cascades National Park/Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (Zone 697), Fire Weather Zone 698 East Washington North Cascades (Zone 698), Fire Weather Zone 699 Okanogan Highlands and Kettle Mountains (Zone 699), Fire Weather Zone 703 Okanogan Valley (Zone 703) and Fire Weather Zone 704 Methow Valley (Zone 704). * Thunderstorms: Abundant lightning with frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes. A lull in lightning activity is expected late Sunday night into Monday morning before lightning activity increases again Monday afternoon into Monday evening. * Outflow Winds: Gusty and erratic outflow winds of up to 40 mph will be possible. * Impacts: Lightning may result in new fire starts. Gusty outflow winds will be capable of rapid fire spread and causing erratic wind directions.
