Pinpoint Alert for Saturday thunderstorm threat across Washington
Aug 20, 2026, 5:55 AM
Dark clouds forming overhead. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
KIRO 7 meteorologists have called Saturday a Pinpoint Alert Day due to the potential for lightning in the mountains and even in some lowland locations, with the threat to those outdoors as well as the potential for lightning strikes to start new fires.
Thursday will remain a tranquil day, and even Friday as well, with some morning clouds and then sunshine and high temperatures in the 70s and low 80s in most spots inland.
We will see some increasing clouds on Friday ahead of this weather system, with the possibility of isolated mountain thunderstorms late Friday and into Friday evening. These would most likely be in the southwestern part of the state and possibly the south Cascades.
However, the latest Futuretrack calls for the energy for thunderstorms to increase during the overnight period through Saturday morning, lingering through much of the day as the disturbance moves across the state.
Thunderstorms could develop and move swiftly from southwest to northeast, producing lightning strikes with possibly very little wetting rainfall. This will pose a significant risk of new fire starts on the parched landscape.
By late Saturday into Saturday night, the threat for thunderstorms will likely begin to exit the region into British Columbia and far northeastern Washington. However, some thunderstorm activity could linger into Sunday morning in the North Cascades.
This is one of the last summer weekends before school is back in session, so many will be outside, including in the mountains. Make sure to have a way to get the latest weather information, including the KIRO 7 Pinpoint Weather App.
KIRO 7 Pinpoint Chief Meteorologist Nick Allard will have the latest updates through Thursday morning on KIRO 7 News and on KIRO 7 News at 11 a.m.
