Stormy Thursday with fire risk still in effect

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - Expect Thursday's forecast to be similar to Wednesday, with isolated to scattered thunderstorms with little to no rain expected through Friday. Gusty winds will also be felt this week, with overall winds increasing, especially Friday through the weekend. Those conditions, along with low humidity in the Eastern highlands, will create an elevated fire weather danger. A Red Flag Warning is in effect as a result, lasting until Friday, June 26th at 12:00 am. Temperatures will begin to cool down for the weekend, with wet weather taking shape to finish out the week.

The chance of thunderstorms this afternoon will increase to 40 percent in the mountainous region, mostly before 4 pm. Wind gusts could reach 22 mph, with the daytime high around 83. Similar winds for Thursday night with mostly cloudy skies and an overnight low near 55.

Storms could pop up along the Snake River Plain and Magic Valley. Gusts could reach over 25 mph, with some areas in the south and east potentially seeing gusts peak at 55-60 mph.

Thursday evening will see a slight increase in the chance of showers and thunderstorms popping up in the Eastern Highlands, mainly after 4 pm. The highs will climb into the upper 80s by late afternoon, then cool into the upper 40s and 50s overnight. Winds might be slightly breezier as the weekend storm system approaches by Thursday evening.

A Red Flag Warning will be in effect from 9 am to midnight on Thursday for parts of Bonneville, Bingham, Caribou, Bear Lake, Franklin, Oneida, Bannock, and Power counties.

…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THURSDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT
THURSDAY NIGHT FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE
413…

The National Weather Service in Pocatello has issued a Red Flag
Warning for scattered thunderstorms, which is in effect from 9 AM
Thursday to midnight MDT Thursday night.

* AFFECTED AREA…Fire Weather Zone 413 Caribou Range/Caribou NF.

* IMPACTS…Critical fire weather conditions are expected.
Lightning may generate new fire starts. Any new fire starts or
existing fires may spread rapidly

* THUNDERSTORMS…25 to 35 percent coverage.