The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a “Red flag” warning for Kirkland and the region due to east winds, low humidity and high temperatures, in effect from 11 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Aug. 15, to 11 am Thursday, Aug. 16.
The affected areas are the Central Cascades and adjacent foothills, particularly in east King County and parts of eastern Lewis County. We could see easterly winds of 6 to 12 mph, with gusts of 20 to 30 mph in the hours after sunrise on Thursday morning.
The National Weather Service alert says that due to these conditions and the low humidity, any fires that start could spread rapidly and it advises people to take precautions and be prepared.
Temperatures in Kirkland are expected to climb into the mid-90s by Friday.
With a local fire resources already are taxed.
A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are here or on the way, and the combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can create explosive fire growth potential.
To see where you are in the zone, go to the National Weather Service website.
--Information from the National Weather Service
