Fire Weather Watch issued for later this week
Gusty wind, low humidity will elevate fire danger, meteorologists say.
(The LNU Lightning Complex wildfire crosses into unincorporated Yolo County along Highway 128 on August 18, 2020. Photo by the author.)
A combination of gusty wind and low humidity will result in elevated fire danger throughout much of Northern California, the National Weather Service said in a bulletin on Monday.
The forecast prompted the weather agency to issue a Fire Weather Watch for affected areas, including all of Solano County, from early Wednesday until Friday.
Forecasters say the wind is expected to ramp up early Wednesday morning, with sustained winds between 15 and 25 miles per hour and gusts up to 30 miles per hour. Stronger wind is possible over ridges.
Combined with low daytime humidity and poor overnight conditions, weather forecasters say the mixture is ripe for the start and spread of new wildfires.
“Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly,” the weather service said in its Monday morning bulletin.
A Fire Weather Watch is normally issued several days in advance when forecasters believe conditions could ultimately lead to elevated fire danger. It is the penultimate step before meteorologists issue a Red Flag Warning, which alerts affected areas of imminent fire danger.
Several wildfires have started during periods of severe weather, including the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire in August and last month’s Glass Fire in Napa County.
For the latest weather information, visit the National Weather Service’s Sacramento forecast office webpage by clicking or tapping here.
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