Much of Eastern Oregon under Red Flag Warning

The National Weather Service in Pendleton has Issued a Red Flag Warning for abundant lightning throughout much of Eastern Oregon.

Find information from the National Weather Service below:

URGENT โ€“ FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Pendleton OR

335 AM PDT Mon Jul 19 2021

โ€ฆDRY AND WINDY IN THE GORGE AND EASTERN CASCADES WITH

THUNDERSTORM CHANCES IN THE EASTERN MOUNTAINSโ€ฆ

.Windy conditions will combine with low RH in the east slopes of the Cascades and eastern Gorge spilling into the far western Basin Today and Tuesday to promote critical fire weather conditions. There is then potential for breezy winds and low RH again Wednesday, and possibly Friday.

Meanwhile, there is potential for two rounds of isolated to widely scattered storms in the eastern mountains. Initially

Monday afternoon and overnight followed by Tuesday to Wednesday morning, the latter confined more so to the northern Blues and Wallowas.

The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning for abundant lightning, which is in effect from 2 PM this afternoon to 11 AM PDT Tuesday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREAโ€ฆFire Weather Zone 644 Central Blue Mountains.

* THUNDERSTORMSโ€ฆIsolated to widely scattered storms will be possible with a LAL of 2. Locally LAL of 3 is possible.

* Outflow Winds: Gusty outflow winds are possible near thunderstorms.

* IMPACTSโ€ฆThe potential for abundant lightning combined with very dry fuels may lead to increased fire starts. Breezy winds may lead to fire spread of any new or existing fires.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONSโ€ฆ

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring nowโ€ฆ.or will shortly. A combination of strong windsโ€ฆlow relative humidityโ€ฆand warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.