Inchelium Complex

Timber, Brush, Grass

Fire behavior on all fires are minimal, with creeping and smoldering and consumption of heavy fuels within containment lines.

Mop up in all divisions to defend primary lines. Repair excess dozer lines.

Majority of the fire area is smoldering within direct control lines. Limited smoke production from isolated areas of fire.

Today: The morning will feature a good deal of sunshine and cool temperatures. The arrival of a quick moving upper level

disturbance will bring increasing chances for showers, breezy west

winds, and the potential for a few thunderstorms. Satellite

imagery as of 2 AM shows the disturbance we will be tracking today just off the coast of central British Columbia. There is a good

deal of cold cumulus development with this disturbance, evidence that mid and upper level cooling will arrive this afternoon. The models including the NAM, GFS, and HREF members depict enough

afternoon destabilization coupled with steepening mid-level lapse rates to generate widespread showers across northeast Washington into the north Idaho Panhandle. With 500mb temperatures expected to be around -25C this afternoon, places like Republic, Kettle Falls, Priest Lake, Bonners Ferry, and Sandpoint will have a shot of thunderstorms this afternoon and early this evening. The low CAPE and high shear environment suggest small, quick moving cells capable of brief heavy rain and small hail. At this time,

thunderstorm activity looks to be north and east of our fresh

burn scars.

The passage of our upper level disturbance this afternoon will

also tighten our westerly surface pressure gradient. Look for sustained west winds of 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph from mid afternoon through early evening across much of central and eastern

Washington including the Columbia Basin, Waterville Plateau,Palouse, and West Plains. Yesterdays gusts of 40 mph caused problems with blowing dust around Washtucna producing periods of near zero visibility and the closure of a portion of Highway 26.

There may be a few hours of blowing dust again this afternoon, but the should be less impactful. Sustained winds and gusts should be

about 10 mph less than yesterday. Most dust events that cause road closures have gusts of 40 mph or more.

Tonight: The focus for showers this evening into the overnight

hours will be over the central and southern Idaho Panhandle as our disturbance tracks into southwest Montana and Wyoming tonight.

Breezy evening winds will subside and clearing skies will promote efficient radiational cooling. Many communities will dip into the

30s by Sunday morning.