Forecast: Dust storms and wildfires ahead for Central and Eastern Washington

On the heels of Gov. Jay Inslee’s March 13 declaration of drought for three Washington regions comes a forecast predicting dust storms and wildfires in the months ahead.

The same conditions that set the stage for the drought, above-average temperatures and low snowpack, are also expected to create dry fields and forest beds in Central and Eastern Washington.

“Drought-like conditions increase the potential not only for dust storms, but for wildfires” said Clint Bowman, an atmospheric scientist with the Washington Department of Ecology. “Spring and summer thunderstorms will bring the threat of d...