...RED FLAG WARNING FOR THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY, FIRE WEATHERWATCHES FOR WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...

A RIDGE BREAKDOWN PATTERN WILL FIRST BRING AN ELEVATED THREAT FOR MOUNTAIN THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND NORTH- CENTRAL WASHINGTON TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. DRIER WEATHER ARRIVES FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, THOUGH WINDS WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY GUSTY WITH CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS LIKELY.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM THURSDAY TO 2 AM PDT FRIDAY.

* AFFECTED AREA: EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADES (ZONE 696), EAST PORTION OF NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK LAKE CHELAN NATIONAL RECREATION AREA (ZONE 697) AND EAST WASHINGTON NORTH CASCADES (ZONE 698).

* WINDS: NORTHWEST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH THURSDAY.

* TIMING: A 5 TO 15% CHANCE OF LIGHTNING OVERNIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WITH A 30% CHANCE THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY NIGHT.

* LIGHTNING: A 10 TO 15% CHANCE OF LIGHTNING OVERNIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WITH A 30% CHANCE THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY NIGHT.

* IMPACTS: NEW FIRE STARTS FROM LIGHTNING THURSDAY. NEW AND EXISTING FIRES COULD BE IMPACTED BY GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS.