Fire weather watch issued for Saturday

Dry, windy weather expected for parts of the region on Saturday prompted a “Fire Weather Watch” from the National Weather Service in Spokane.

The caution was issued Wednesday afternoon for Saturday in the Okanogan Valley, Central Washington Cascade Foothills, the Waterville Plateau and Western Columbia Basin areas.

Winds are expected to reach 15 mph with gusts up to 25, but relative humidity will be low in the 10-20% range.

That combination means fires can easily start and rapidly spread.

“A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions

are forecast to occur,” the NWS says. “Listen for later forecasts and possible

Red Flag Warnings.”

The conditions are expected to last from Saturday morning until 11 p.m.