Sweltering temperatures, easterly winds and a “pulse of moisture moving up the Central Valley” are forecast to join forces and generate scattered, dry thunderstorms, the National Weather Service said in an urgent message, prompting meteorologists to issue a red flag warning for parts of Northern California from 11 a.m. Monday through 8 p.m. Tuesday.
This is an update from a fire weather watch slated to go into effect from cities such as Lakeport and Ukiah all the way north to Crescent City, where a 25% chance of thunderstorms looms along with “erratic” outflow winds up to 50 mph, the weather service said.
“Any storms that do form will likely produce wetting rain in the cores but lightning is possible far from these cores in areas that will remain dry,” the weather service’s area forecast discussion read. “Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.”
A 10% chance of isolated storms is also possible early Monday morning and again on Tuesday afternoon for the area.
A separate red flag warning is also slated to go into effect from 11 a.m. Monday to 8 p.m. Tuesday from elevations of 1,000 to 3,000 feet in the Northern Sierra foothills. Portions of Shasta-Trinnity and Lassen National Park will be impacted.
The warnings come in the aftermath of a weekend warming trend that brought temperatures up to 105 degrees across the interior valleys of northwest California. Temperatures are expected to linger in the triple digits and upper 90s through Tuesday. To prevent wildfire starts, the weather service asks people to avoid driving over dry grass, dragging trailer chains or leaving open flames unattended. Wildfire risk is growing in the state, which received below-normal precipitation for the month of May, as the heat persists and winds dry out vegetation.
As of Sunday afternoon, PG&E has not reported any preemptive public safety power shutoffs. Check for updates on the agency’s website.