...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 9 PM MDT SATURDAY FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 410, 413, 422, 427, 475, AND 476...

The National Weather Service in Pocatello has issued a Red Flag Warning for scattered thunderstorms, which is in effect from 6 AM to 9 PM MDT Saturday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 410 Upper Snake River Valley/Idaho Falls BLM, Fire Weather Zone 413 Caribou Range/Caribou NF, Fire Weather Zone 422 Sawtooth Range/Northern Sawtooth NF, Fire Weather Zone 427 Goose Creek and Raft River Valley/Southern Sawtooth NF/Twin Falls BLM south of the Snake River, Fire Weather Zone 475 East Salmon River Mountains/Salmon NF and Fire Weather Zone 476 Lemhi and Lost River Range/Challis NF.

* IMPACTS...Critical fire weather conditions are expected Saturday. Lightning may generate new fire starts. Any new fire starts or existing fires may spread rapidly.

* THUNDERSTORMS...25 to 45 percent coverage.

* OUTFLOW WINDS...Stronger storms will be capable of producing wind gusts up to 55 mph.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly based on these criteria for Southeastern Idaho:

- Relative humidity at or below 15 percent and wind gusts of at least 25 mph in the mountains, or 30 mph in the Snake Plain.

- Thunderstorm coverage of 25 percent, without specific rainfall criteria.

- Other high impact events deemed critical by the National Weather Service and area fire management agencies. close