Red Flag Fire Warning for Columbia Basin, And NE Oregon Too, Tuesday June 16

The National Weather Service has issued the highest warning possible for all day Tuesday and into Tuesday evening, as well as the early hours Wednesday.

   Red Flag Warnings for All Over SE WA

A temperature spike, along with already dry conditions and gusty winds, has resulted in the warning for the Tri-Cities, and Yakima is getting a heat advisory--they might clip 100.

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The Red Flag Warning actually covers a region from Hood River, OR, up to Yakima, east toward Pullman, south to Pendleton, and curving down through the Umatilla National Forest toward Warm Springs.  That's a big geographical area. Click here to see the zone on a NWS Map.

  The Reason for The Warning?

It would likely be a 'regular' warning, but with 94-plus degree weather, dry conditions and winds that could gust up to 28 MPH, it's ripe for major wildfires, hence the Red Flag Warning.

Even the slightest spark can result in a fast-moving fire.  Residents in outlying areas are urged not to perform any activities that could spark such fires. Don't mow, dig, target shoot or otherwise anything that could create a spark.

We've had fires that began because someone was mowing or cutting and a blade hit a rock, a spark came off, and poof! Up went the field.

   Conditions Should Settle Down Wednesday

Temperatures should cool at least 8-10 degrees Wednesday, with more by Thursday and the winds will diminish noticeably. That should help. So would some light rain, at least, but that's not in this week's forecast.