Heat advisory, red flag warning issued for Thurston County

A heat advisory and red flag warning are in effect for Thurston County, amid a backdrop of hot, dry and unstable weather conditions.

The National Weather Service Office in Seattle issued the advisory and warning on Tuesday, July 15. The heat advisory is in effect until 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, while the red flag warning ends at 11 p.m. on Wednesday.

"Heat will significantly increase the risk of heat-related illnesses for those who are sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration," the weather service said in its heat advisory.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for a high of 93 degrees on Wednesday with sunny skies and a calm west wind of about 5-7 miles per hour (mph).

"A dry and unstable air mass with warm temperatures can contribute to active fire behavior," the weather service said in its red flag warning.

"In western Washington, significant growth on existing fires takes place under such conditions. If a fire were to begin, air quality may diminish
in the surrounding area."

The overnight low is expected to be around 53 degrees with mostly clear skies and a southwest wind of 3-7 mph.