Forecasters issue warning for lightning, possible wildfires
SEATTLE - With the sweltering heat of the past few days just a memory in Western Washington, forecasters are now keeping an eye on a potential weather threat from lightning and super-dry conditions over the afternoon and evening hours Saturday and early on Sunday.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire conditions for most of Western Washington through Sunday morning.
The warning even includes the Puget Sound metro and other lowland areas that are rarely given such warnings.
A Red Flag Warning means that conditions are already conducive for fires to easily begin and if a brush fire or wildfire were to be started - be it caused by humans or lightning - a combination of strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential.
Seattle hasn't seen measurable rain since July 22 - a period of 27 days - and hasn't seen significant rain since July 20. The past week's stretch of temperatures in the 80s and 90s with low humidity has only dried out everything further.
Outdoor burn bans remain in effect for much of Western Washington, including King, Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap and Thurston County.
Mid-level moisture and instability were streaming across the Puget Sound region throughout the afternoon, but as of 4:30 p.m. all of the lightning strikes had occurred offshore over the coastal waters, and none had yet struck over land.
View an animated radar loop of approaching weather systems »:
Even so, the threat of isolated to scattered lightning continues for the region, the National Weather Service warns, with very little accompanying rainfall.
The highest risk for lightning late on Saturday afternoon stretched from near Chehalis north-northwest to near Port Angeles.
The highest risk will shift northeast Saturday evening, reaching a line from Snoqualmie Pass to the San Juan Islands by 11 p.m. The risk will continue northeast overnight into the North Cascades.
A little residual lightning is possible over both the central and north Cascades on Sunday morning.
If you'll be outside just be sure to keep an eye to the south for any approaching storms and move inside if they approach. These storms have potential for quite a bit of lightning, if not much rain (these are more the desert-type mainly dry thunderstorms).
The thunderstorms will move off to the north by dawn Sunday and the rest of the day should feature calmer conditions with just some marine clouds giving way to sunshine. No additional thunderstorm threats are foreseen through the rest of next week.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire conditions for most of Western Washington through Sunday morning.
The warning even includes the Puget Sound metro and other lowland areas that are rarely given such warnings.
A Red Flag Warning means that conditions are already conducive for fires to easily begin and if a brush fire or wildfire were to be started - be it caused by humans or lightning - a combination of strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential.
Seattle hasn't seen measurable rain since July 22 - a period of 27 days - and hasn't seen significant rain since July 20. The past week's stretch of temperatures in the 80s and 90s with low humidity has only dried out everything further.
Outdoor burn bans remain in effect for much of Western Washington, including King, Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap and Thurston County.
Mid-level moisture and instability were streaming across the Puget Sound region throughout the afternoon, but as of 4:30 p.m. all of the lightning strikes had occurred offshore over the coastal waters, and none had yet struck over land.
View an animated radar loop of approaching weather systems »:
Even so, the threat of isolated to scattered lightning continues for the region, the National Weather Service warns, with very little accompanying rainfall.
The highest risk for lightning late on Saturday afternoon stretched from near Chehalis north-northwest to near Port Angeles.
The highest risk will shift northeast Saturday evening, reaching a line from Snoqualmie Pass to the San Juan Islands by 11 p.m. The risk will continue northeast overnight into the North Cascades.
A little residual lightning is possible over both the central and north Cascades on Sunday morning.
If you'll be outside just be sure to keep an eye to the south for any approaching storms and move inside if they approach. These storms have potential for quite a bit of lightning, if not much rain (these are more the desert-type mainly dry thunderstorms).
The thunderstorms will move off to the north by dawn Sunday and the rest of the day should feature calmer conditions with just some marine clouds giving way to sunshine. No additional thunderstorm threats are foreseen through the rest of next week.
Once again all of the hype for nothing, What T-storms and lightning? i guess it's a good thing this time though, but i do love a good thunderstorm.Â
I see people flicking their lit cigarette butts (cancer sticks) all the time as I am driving. It's especially apparent at night when their lit cigarettes hit the highway's pavement. Just takes a spark to start a wildfire.Â
 @HallandOates If you see that happen, right down the plate number and report them! (If you can) People that do that are careless nitwits!
Bring on the rains!! Can't wait for the fall. Â It's green on this side of the mountains for a reason -because it rains. Love it or leave it!Â
Unless serious steps are taken to reverse climate change, we here in WA will have the unfortunate opportunity to see huge swaths of our state burn...it is only a matter of time. There have been minor proposals made by EPA to begin a system of CO2 decrease but of course with the current partisan situation in congress nothing will be approved. However, WE can make our concerns known... check this out: Â Fill out a public comment to tell EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson that you support the new standards and urge her to make them as strong as possible? Thanks for caring enough to take the time.
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https://secure3.convio.net/engage/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=6234
@ytboarder Now now. To be fair the climate has been changing back and forth for millions of years all on its own, which is why you can go look for yourself and see a palm tree fossel at the top of the N Cascades HWY.Â
 @Kodiak  @ytboarder Co2 levels are at their lowest point in 20 years.
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http://articles.philly.com/2012-08-17/news/33249254_1_natural-gas-fall-in-coal-prices-energy-department
@al_wa @ytboarder
Our people have been doing research since the early 30âs on climate change. It just happens and its not man made. Thank you Al_Wa for the backing. http://alutiiqmuseum.org/
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