Fire weather watch issued for Eastern Washington for Thursday, says the NWS

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A fire weather watch was issued by the NWS Spokane WA on Wednesday at 12:21 a.m. valid for Thursday between 1 a.m. and 10 a.m. The watch is for East Washington Central Cascades, Central Washington Cascade Foothills, Waterville Plateau and Western Columbia Basin.

"One wave of showers and thunderstorms will track south to north through central Washington Wednesday night into Thursday morning. This activity will be a mix of wet and dry thunderstorms with scattered lightning strikes. Rainfall amounts between a trace and a tenth of an inch. As this activity drifts north of Highway 2 Thursday morning, lightning activity is expected to become isolated with rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch. Thunderstorms are expected to redevelop Thursday afternoon and early evening. Coverage will be isolated to scattered. A few storms could be strong during this time with frequent lightning and hail. Gusty outflow winds and new fire starts will be a concern with any thunderstorms from Wednesday night through Thursday evening. The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Fire Weather Watch for thunderstorms, which is in effect from late tonight through Thursday morning. Affected Area: East Washington Central Cascades (Zone 696), Foothills of Central Washington Cascades (Zone 705), Waterville Plateau (Zone 706) and Western Columbia Basin (Zone 707). Thunderstorms: Isolated to scattered coverage. Mainly dry thunderstorms with rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch. Outflow Winds: Erratic outflow winds of 20 to 40 mph. Impacts: New fire starts from lightning. New fires could be impacted by gusty outflow winds," according to the NWS.

This watch is in effect until Thursday at 10 a.m.

According to the NWS, a fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible. Listen for later forecasts and possible red flag warnings.

Source: The National Weather Service

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This story was originally published July 15, 2026 at 12:26 AM.