Bay Area Braces For 'Near-Critical' Fire Weather Conditions

BAY AREA, CA — The National Weather Service warned of an increased risk of wildfires Thursday and Friday in parts of the greater Bay Area, including Solano County and elevations below 1,000 feet in the Carquinez Strait and Delta, because of expected high winds and low humidity.

A red flag warning is set to take effect for several Northern California counties — Solano, San Joaquin, Yolo, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Yuba, Stanislaus, Placer, Tehama, Sutter, Sacramento, Shasta, Trinity — starting at 11 a.m. Thursday and continuing through 8 p.m. Friday as winds with gusts of up to 45 mph and minimum humidity in the single digits are forecasted, according to the weather service.

In the Bay Area, the strongest winds may be seen in the hills of Napa County as well as the valleys of eastern Contra Costa County and the East Bay hills above 1,500 feet, forecasters said.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Any fires that develop may spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

Forecasters expect the strongest winds Thursday night through Friday morning.

Lighter winds are expected Saturday but humidity values will remain in the single digits and teens, the weather service said.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.