WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A fire weather watch has been issued for eastern Whatcom County ahead of possible thunderstorms.

The National Weather Service issued the alert for the west slopes of the North Cascades from late Friday night, Aug. 21, through Saturday evening.

Forecasters say there’s the potential for scattered thunderstorms and showers across the region over that span, particularly over the mountains.

Any lightning paired with the dry conditions brings a heightened risk of starting new fires and amplifying existing ones.

Residents are encouraged to monitor the forecasts for possible Red Flag warnings.