Emmett Weather

...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND...

.A building ridge to the south combined with a trough moving
across western Canada will tighten the pressure gradient over the
area through the weekend creating breezy to windy conditions for
the weekend. This combined with warming temperatures and low
humidity will lead to high fire danger across much of eastern
Idaho.

The National Weather Service in Pocatello has issued a Red Flag
Warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity, which is in
effect from 2 PM Saturday to 9 PM MDT Sunday. 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Watch is no longer in effect.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 422 Sawtooth
Range/Northern Sawtooth NF, Fire Weather Zone 425 Middle Snake
River Valley/Twin Falls BLM north 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.

* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph during the
afternoon and early evening hours both Saturday and Sunday.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 7 percent.

* IMPACTS...Wind and low humidity can lead to rapid spread of fire
and more intense fire in receptive fuels.

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.

* WHAT...Air Quality Advisory because of degraded air quality due to
wildfire smoke.

Air Quality Index is forecast to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

* WHERE...Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette,
Valley, and Washington Counties.

* WHEN...UNTIL 2 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...Members of sensitive groups may experience health
effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.

Air pollutants can cause breathing difficulties for children, the
elderly, as well as persons with respiratory problems. Those
individuals who are sensitive to increased particulate matter or
smoke are encouraged to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor
activity during this advisory. Open burning is prohibited by air
quality rule. It is also recommended that all other individuals
limit prolonged or strenuous activity outdoors.

THIS STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY, AIR QUALITY GROUP FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT DEQ's
Boise Regional Office at (208) 373-0550
Twin Falls Regional Office at (208) 736-2190