Windy Weekend Forecast Sparks Wildfire Concerns in Northern California
Despite the recent rain in Northern California, fire officials are reminding the public that wildfire danger is still at high-risk, especially with forecasts of very heavy winds for the weekend.
Winds are expected to hit the NorCal area on Saturday and peak Sunday, with some areas expected to see winds up to 35 mph. The forecast is frightening to firefighters who saw California’s most destructive fire ever hit the community of Sonoma during high winds on October 8 of last year.
Don’t fall for it! Despite recent rains, fire danger in CA remains elevated & gusty winds are expected this weekend in many parts of Northern CA. Landscape debris burn piles can easily spark a new wildfire. Local burn bans remain in place. Learn more: https://t.co/0parqmtS8t pic.twitter.com/dMVscWxWw0
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) October 5, 2018
“Fire danger is high still. It remains very dry. There hadn’t been precipitation on the forest since June,” Tahoe Forest deputy fire management officer Jason Withrow said to KRCA. “Predicted north winds means higher velocity and lower humidity.”
The wet weather aided firefighters this week when up to an inch hit the smoldering areas of active fires in Northern California, including the Delta Fire, which is still burning at over 63,000 acres near Shasta Lake. But this isn’t the time to let up your guard, as the threat of wildfires still loom in the area.
A windy weekend is in store. Saturday and Sunday will have breezy north winds with Sunday seeing the strongest winds. Watch for blowing debris and increased fire danger. #cawx pic.twitter.com/EUFVCD8RDj
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) October 5, 2018
The winds are expected to hit all over NorCal over the weekend, with towns in the valley seeing the biggest gusts. Chico, Redding and Sacramento are all expected to see winds up to 30 mph over Saturday and Sunday.
Over a million acres of land have burned in Northern California wildfires in 2018, with 1,200 homes burned and at least a dozen people dead.
