NWS Spokane WAFW.W 0021August 17, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Lower Palouse / Snake River, WA
The National Weather Service office in Spokane issued a red flag warning for Lower Palouse / Snake River in Washington, which was in force until 10:00 p.m. local time on August 18. It was the 21st red flag warning the NWS office in Spokane issued in 2026. Washington had 20 red flag warnings in August 2026, against 11 in an average August of 2008-2025 (Washington's red flag warnings by year).
ExpiredWarning
In force for 10 hours; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Spokane WA
- Area
- Lower Palouse / Snake River
- State
- Washington
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 2:32 p.m. PDT, August 17, 2026
- In force from
- 12:00 p.m. PDT, August 18, 2026
- Expires
- 10:00 p.m. PDT, August 18, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Severe, Likely, Expected
- VTEC event
- KOTX FW.W 0021
- Official source
- National Weather Service: the notice at its source
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. AreaZine rebuilds this page from the agency's record; the agency's page is the one to act on. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
The notice as issued
...BREEZY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY TUESDAY... .A weather system will move through the area on Tuesday, bringing breezy westerly to southwesterly winds to this region tomorrow afternoon and evening. Combined with low relative humidity values, this will lead to critical fire weather conditions across the Lower Palouse and Snake River. The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from noon to 10 PM PDT Tuesday. * Affected Area: Lower Palouse -Snake River (Zone 709). * Winds: West 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. * Relative Humidities: 15 to 20 percent. * Impacts: Rapid fire spread is possible with any new or ongoing fires.
What the agency told people to do
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.
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. The text is the agency's, unedited. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.