Critical Fire Weather Watch Issued for Cascades and Columbia Basin
A dry cold front is expected to move through the Cascades and Columbia Basin on Friday and Saturday, bringing breezy west to southwesterly winds. Wind speeds are forecast to reach 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph. Combined with low relative humidity levels of 10-18%, poor overnight humidity recovery, and hot temperatures, these conditions create a high potential for critical fire weather. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for zones 701, 702, 707, and 708, which include the Foothills of Northeast Washington, Colville Reservation, and parts of the Columbia Basin. An Air Quality Alert is also in effect for multiple counties due to smoke from regional fires (Source time: Thu, 06 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT).