Red Flag Warning In Effect Through Tuesday For Bay Area

BAY AREA, CA – Critical fire weather conditions are expected to return this week, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for the East Bay hills and the North Bay mountains.

The red flag warning is in effect until 5 p.m. Tuesday because of warm, dry and windy conditions expected in the region. The warning impacts the East Bay hills and the North Bay mountains, including the higher terrain areas of Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties.

"A very dry airmass with light to moderate offshore winds will continue Monday through at least Tuesday and possibly midweek," weather officials said. "The combination of these weather conditions with very dry fuels will create critical fire weather conditions through at least Tuesday afternoon."

North to northeast winds are expected to increase Monday night into Tuesday to 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Humidity is predicted at 5 to 15 percent with little or no nighttime recovery through midweek.

People are advised to be extra cautious as any fires that develop have the potential to spread quickly.

Photo by Autumn Johnson/Patch