UPDATE: Red Flag Warning replaces fire weather watch
By Terry Murry on Friday, June 19th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
From the National Weather Service, Pendleton:
…Critical Fire Weather expected Saturday…
.Low Relative Humidity and Windy conditions will create critical
fire weather conditions across the Yakima Valley the Columbia
Basin of Oregon, Eastern Columbia River Gorge, and the Mountains
of Central Oregon.
The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag
Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect
from 3 PM to 9 PM PDT Saturday. The Fire Weather Watch is no
longer in effect.
* AFFECTED AREA…Fire Weather Zones 691 Lower Columbia Basin of
Oregon, 691 Lower Columbia Basin of Washington and 700 Central
Mountains of Oregon.
* TIMING…From 3 PM to 9 PM PDT Saturday.
* WINDS…West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 9 percent.
* IMPACTS…Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Instructions
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Posted earlier:
PENDLETON – The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued another critical fire weather watch for Saturday morning into the evening hours. The watch is for the Columbia Basin of Oregon, the Yakima Valley, the Eastern Columbia River Gorge, and the mountains of Central Oregon.
Forecasters say that low relative humidity and windy conditions will create critical fire weather conditions from tomorrow morning through evening. Winds will be out of the west at 10 to 25 miles per hour with gusts up to 35 mph.
Burn bans are in effect for much of the area and outdoor burning should be avoided according to meteorologists. A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. People are urged to listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag warnings.
To check area conditions go to the National Weather Service at Pendleton, OR
