A red-flag warning for extreme fire danger has been issued for the eastern Olympics beginning at 5 p.m. today and lasting through 5 p.m. Tuesday due to dry conditions and a weather forecast that includes possible lighting storms.
The National Weather Service issued the warning today for the eastern half of the Olympic Peninsula, which includes the communities of Quilcene and Brinnon, and for the mountains south of Port Angeles, including Hurricane Ridge, along with the foothills and mountains south of Sequim.
A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions exist or are expected to develop in the near future, the National Weather Service said.
The conditions can be caused by a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures, which can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Thunderstorms are expected to be widespread around the region, primarily Tuesday, said Johnny Burg, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Seattle.
“There could be some overnight, but Sequim and Port Angeles will likely get them Tuesday during the day,” Burg said.
The storms are expected to be on the North Olympic Peninsula from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, he said.
A forecast update will be available from the National Weather Service at about 4 p.m. See http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew .
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
