...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING FOR
THE BAY AREA AND CENTRAL COAST FOR STRONG OFFSHORE WINDS AND
CRITICALLY DRY CONDITIONS...
.Strong and gusty offshore winds, critical relative humidity, and
dry fuels continue across much of the region. North to
northeasterly wind gusts will average between 25 and 50 mph,
particularly across the higher terrain of the Santa Cruz
Mountains, East Bay Hills, North Bay Mountains, as well as
interior portions of Napa and Sonoma counties. Afternoon humidity
values will range between the single digits and 25 percent.
Overnight humidity recovery will be poor between 20 and 45
percent. Fire crews and residents are urged to remain abreast of
the weather forecast over the next couple of days.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 006 San Francisco, Fire
Weather Zone 502 Marin Coastal Range, Fire Weather Zone 503
Sonoma Coastal Range, Fire Weather Zone 504 North Bay Interior
Mountains, Fire Weather Zone 506 North Bay Interior Valleys,
Fire Weather Zone 508 San Francisco Bay Shoreline, Fire
Weather Zone 509 San Francisco Peninsula Coast, Fire Weather
Zone 510 East Bay Interior Valleys, Fire Weather Zone 512
Santa Cruz Mountains, Fire Weather Zone 513 Santa Clara Valley
Including San Jose, Fire Weather Zone 514 Eastern Santa Clara
Hills, Fire Weather Zone 515 East Bay Hills, Fire Weather Zone
517 Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, Fire
Weather Zone 518 Mountains of San Benito County And Interior
Monterey County including Pinnacles National Park and Fire
Weather Zone 529 Northern Monterey Bay.
* TIMING...11 AM Tuesday until 7 AM Thursday.
* WINDS...Northeast 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Across
the North Bay Interior Mountains, gusts up to 70 mph.
* IMPACTS...Despite recent rainfall, a long duration offshore
flow event is anticipated. This will result in the rapid
curing of fuels. The combination of strong winds and low
humidity will cause fire to rapidly grow in size and
intensity. Outdoor burning is not recommended and may be
prohibited in some areas.
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now...or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds...and low relative humidity can contribute to
extreme fire behavior.