...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 FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA: NORTHERN AND CENTRAL IDAHO PANHANDLE (ZONE 101), SELKIRK MOUNTAINS OF NORTHEAST WASHINGTON (ZONE 700), FOOTHILLS OF NORTHEAST WASHINGTON (ZONE 701), EASTERN COLUMBIA BASIN -PALOUSE -SPOKANE AREA (ZONE 708) AND LOWER PALOUSE - SNAKE RIVER (ZONE 709).

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* TIMING: FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY AFTERNOON

* RELATIVE HUMIDITIES: 15 TO 25 PERCENT ACROSS THE LOWER ELEVATIONS, WITH 23 TO 35 PERCENT AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* TEMPERATURES: UP TO 93.

* IMPACTS: GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY SATURDAY AFTERNOON MAY LEAD TO RAPID FIRE SPREAD WITH ANY NEW OR ONGOING FIRES.