Winds forecast to increase fire danger through Wednesday

Key points: 

1. Elevated fire danger through Wednesday due to gusty winds. 
2. Dry conditions due to below-normal precipitation over last 30 days. 
3. Possibility of rain over the weekend.

MOSES LAKE — Summer officially starts Saturday, but really it’s already here, and elevated fire danger is one of the signs. It's been dry in Central Washington over the last 30 days, and winds are expected to increase ahead of a cool front forecast for the weekend. Daniel Butler, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Spokane, said the highest risk is Wednesday. 

“We’re looking at breezy west winds up to 30 miles per hour,” Butler said.  

Along with that, precipitation has been as much as 25-50% below normal in the Columbia Basin over the last 30 days, and even a winter snowpack near or above the norm has not been as much help as it could be. 

“(The snowpack) melted off a little bit faster than normal,” Butler said. 

Temperatures are forecast to be slightly higher than usual in the first part of the week, about five degrees above normal in Moses Lake on Wednesday. Rainstorms are forecast to move in on Thursday and last throughout the weekend, reducing the chances of a fire spreading, at least temporarily. About a 20-30% chance of rain is forecast for Moses Lake on Saturday and Sunday. 

With the arrival of fire weather, people should take precautions, especially if they live outside an urban area. Fires aren’t predictable – a fire over the weekend in Adams County may have been caused when a car caught fire due to a mechanical problem.  

The Washington Department of Health advises making an evacuation plan, scouting out escape routes and designating a safety zone if routes are blocked. People who have medical or physical needs should make sure they have enough medication in case evacuation is required. Family members should have an out-of-area contact who can coordinate information in case they get separated. 

Pet owners and people with horses and other livestock should also think about them when setting up precautions and evacuation plans, according to a release from the Washington Department of Agriculture. 

An evacuation plan should include extra food, medicine and supplies for pets, the WSDA said. People should plan how they’re going to transport their animals and should have tags on the animals or other identification in case they’re separated from their owners. 

Even if the fire doesn’t get close, the smoke does — sometimes it spreads across the entire region. The DOH said people should close windows and doors and find a way to filter air, such as a portable air cleaner or a do-it-yourself filter on a box fan.  

Wildfire smoke also affects animals, and the WSDA release suggested moving animals to areas with better ventilation, or indoors, when possible. Animal owners should look for signs that animals are having trouble breathing, such as coughing or a runny nose. Animal owners should have a supply of clean water.