Emmett Weather

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM TO 9 PM MDT TODAY FOR
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS FOR IDAHO FIRE WEATHER ZONES 410, 411,
413 AND 427...

The National Weather Service in Pocatello has issued a Red Flag
Warning for scattered thunderstorms, which is in effect from 2 PM
this afternoon to 9 PM MDT this evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 410 Upper Snake River
Valley/Idaho Falls BLM, Fire Weather Zone 411 Centennial
Mountains and Snake River Range/Targhee NF, Fire Weather Zone
413 Caribou Range/Caribou NF and Fire Weather Zone 427 Goose
Creek and Raft River Valley/Southern Sawtooth NF/Twin Falls
BLM south of the Snake River.

* IMPACTS...Scattered thunderstorms can produce frequent
lightning that may in turn produce wildfire starts in
receptive fuels.

* THUNDERSTORMS...A mix of wet and dry storms.

* OUTFLOW WINDS....Gusts over 35 mph with peak gusts nearing 45-
55 mph.

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.

AQAPIH

* 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...Blaine, Lincoln, Minidoka, and Cassia counties in south
central Idaho.

* WHEN...Through Thursday, July 30.

* IMPACTS...Members of sensitive groups may experience health
effects. The general public is less 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
Twin Falls Regional Office at (208)736-2190.