Red Flag Warning issued for Solano County from Sunday night
Wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour are possible, meteorologists say.
(Graphic by Solano News Update)
The National Weather Service office in Sacramento issued a Red Flag Warning that covers a significant portion of the Sacramento Valley, including all of Solano County.
The warning starts Sunday evening at 11 p.m. and lasts through Monday evening at 5 p.m.
“A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occuring now, or will shortly,” the weather agency said in a bulletin. “A combination of strong wind, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.”
Weather experts say sustained winds between 15 miles per hour and 20 miles per hour are likely Sunday evening and will remain through the first half of Monday before tapering off in the evening.
Though Red Flag Warnings are rarely issued in December, weather forecasters are concerned about gusty wind that could reach up to 40 miles per hour in some areas coupled with low humidity and dry terrain, with the latter resulting in a lack of rain over the last few weeks.
Any fires that start during the Red Flag Warning are likely to spread quickly and dangerously, meteorologists warned.
On Sunday, the Pacific Gas & Eletric Company said some areas in the eastern portion of Northern California may be subject to a Planned Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), a strategy the company uses to prevent wildfires by deliberately shutting off electrical service in an area. Affected regions include portions of Tuolumne County and Mariposa County near Yosemite National Park.
The utility has not called for planned power outages in Solano County as of Sunday evening.
This newsletter is an all-volunteer effort. If you would like to show your appreciation, consider making a donation in any amount or converting your email subscription into a paid one. Discuss this newsletter and other stories from across Solano County on our Facebook group here and follow our new Twitter account here.