EVERETT — The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Tuesday afternoon for the western slopes of the North Cascades above 1,500 feet, including eastern portions of Snohomish County. The warning is in effect until 9 p.m. Wednesday.
The warning comes just days after the Snohomish County Fire Marshal extended a Stage 1 burn ban on Friday until Sept. 14 and announced the ban may be extended again if high-risk fire conditions persist.
Under the Stage 1 restriction, outdoor residential burning is banned, except for recreational and cooking fires. Recreational fires are defined by Snohomish County as being less than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high, containing burning material under the top of a fire pit or enclosure, are not lit within 25 feet of combustible material, are monitored at all times and must have a readily available water source nearby. Charcoal and propane grills are allowed under the Stage 1 burn ban.
The burn ban also prohibits outdoor burning in Arlington, Brier, Edmonds, Everett, Granite Falls, Gold Bar, Index, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mill Creek, Monroe, Mountlake Terrace, Snohomish, Stanwood, Sultan and Woodway.
This week’s hot and dry weather led to the National Weather Service issuing the red flag warning and elevated fire watch, said meteorologist Harrison Rademacher.
“We pulled the red flag warning based on our increased confidence for fire weather conditions to become unstable due to the high and dry conditions,” he said. “Especially with relative humidity down to as low as 20% and then with the temperatures with this pattern, there’s going to be a couple of warm days.”
The highlands of the county are under a heat advisory through Thursday, with temperatures peaking Wednesday afternoon in the low 90s in places like Gold Bar and Darrington.
“If you’re more sensitive to the heat, stay indoors if you can, and if you have to be out there, stay hydrated and try to take breaks,” Rademacher said.
Eliza Aronson: 425-339-3434; eliza.aronson@heraldnet.com; X: @ElizaAronson.
Eliza’s stories are supported by the Herald’s Environmental and Climate Reporting Fund.
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