NWS Seattle WAFW.W 0006August 21, 2026
Red Flag Warning: West Slopes of the North Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet, WA
The National Weather Service office in Seattle issued a red flag warning for West Slopes of the North Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet in Washington, which was in force until 8:00 p.m. local time on August 22. It was the 6th red flag warning the NWS office in Seattle 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 15 hours; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Seattle WA
- Area
- West Slopes of the North Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet
- State
- Washington
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 1:02 p.m. PDT, August 21, 2026
- In force from
- 5:00 a.m. PDT, August 22, 2026
- Expires
- 8:00 p.m. PDT, August 22, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Severe, Likely, Expected
- VTEC event
- KSEW FW.W 0006
- 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
The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Red Flag Warning for lightning and gusty outflow winds, which is in effect from 5 AM to 8 PM PDT Saturday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 658 West Slopes of the North Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet. * LIGHTNING...Scattered thunderstorm coverage is possible across the North Cascades. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Any storms that develop will be capable of gusty and erratic outflow winds between 20 and 30 miles per hour. Outflow winds can occur ahead of and behind storms and cause erratic wind directions. * IMPACTS...Scattered lightning in dry fuels can cause multiple fire starts. Thunderstorms can also bring sudden sharp wind shifts on existing fires, causing rapid changes in a fire's rate of spread and direction of spread. Thunderstorm outflow winds can be a threat for several hours following the start of a new lightning-caused fire. If a fire were to begin, air quality may diminish in the surrounding area.
What the agency told people to do
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either imminent or occurring now. Any fires that develop will likely spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
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.