Update: Red Flag Warning In Effect for Gig Harbor, South Puget Sound

At 8:32 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service Seattle updated the Red Flag Warning, which remains in effect for the Gig Harbor area and much of South Puget Sound until 10 p.m. Friday.

* AFFECTED AREA...CENTRAL AND SOUTH PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS AND THE COASTAL STRIP.

* WINDS...EAST TO NORTHEAST 7 TO 14 MPH. WIND GUSTS NEAR 20 MPH.

* TIMING...THE MOST CRITICAL COMBINATION OF WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL TAKE PLACE THIS AFTERNOON.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...BOTTOMING OUT IN THE 22-30 PERCENT RANGE THIS AFTERNOON..

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRE THAT DEVELOPS MAY EXPERIENCE DRY EAST TO NORTHEAST WIND. THIS COULD CAUSE RAPID RATES OF FIRE SPREAD AND CONTROL PROBLEMS.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

The Washington Department of Natural Resources has extended a burn ban for Western Washington through Oct. 15.

Weekend forecast:

• Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 42. North northeast wind 9 to 18 mph.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 65. North northeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm.
• Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 40. North northeast wind 9 to 11 mph.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the morning.
• Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 45.
• Columbus Day: Sunny, with a high near 63.
• Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.