Heads Up and Stay Alert Tri-Cities - Red Flag Warning Posted

Benton County Fire District #1 is giving everyone a heads up that with high heat and expected whipping winds, the formula for potential fallout is all too familiar.

Beginning at 0700 today and lasting until tomorrow night, Saturday August 29th, at 11:00 p.m., a Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Pendleton, Oregon. Any fires that develop are likely to quickly spread under a Red Flag Warning.

Forecasters are predicting winds out of the west 15 to 25 mph with gusts 30 to 45 mph in some parts of the Columbia Basin and Gorge.

The highest potential risk is for Saturday afternoon with gusty winds and low humidity.

National Weather Service

From the Red Flag Alert posted by the weather service:

* AFFECTED AREAS...Fire Weather Zone 610 East Slopes of the
Central Oregon Cascades, Fire Weather Zone 639 East Slopes of
the Southern Washington Cascades, Fire Weather Zone 640
Central Mountains of Oregon, Fire Weather Zone 641 Lower
Columbia Basin of Oregon, Fire Weather Zone 641 Lower Columbia
Basin of Washington, Fire Weather Zone 675 Eastern Washington
Southern Columbia Basin and Fire Weather Zone 681 Yakama
Alpine District.

And from Benton County Fire District #1:

: :

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES

The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from 2 PM to 11 PM PDT Saturday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts 30 to 40 mph and 45 mph possible in portions of the Columbia Basin and Gorge.

...Minimum afternoon humidities of 10 to 20 percent.

...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly

Categories: Local News