Thunderstorm warning issued for this afternoon

SPOKANE--The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a thunderstorm warning effective through 4 p.m. today, July 1 for the greater Spokane area to include Cheney, Medical Lake, Airway Heights and the Davenport area.

Most notably, the NWS noted concern for new fire starts, saying they were likely due to dry fuels despite some storms bringing light rain.

Crews were responding to multiple fires in the Spokane/Spokane Valley area this morning.

Scattered thunderstorms with "abundant" lightning were expected today through the end of the warning. Wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour are possible.

The thunderstorm warning comes on top of an excessive heat warning that remains in place until July 4 at 7 p.m.