News and opinion about wildland fire
Red Flag Warnings are in effect for elevated wildfire danger in areas of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado As you can see on the map they expire at various times on Friday.
The forecast for those areas predict, generally, winds gusting above 35 mph and relative humidity in the low teens.
(Red Flag Warnings can be modified throughout the day as NWS offices around the country update and revise their weather forecasts.)
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for areas of Western Nevada and Northwest California from 11 a.m. Wednesday until 1 a.m. Friday. The forecast calls for southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts at 40 to 45 with relative humidity levels at 8 to 10 percent. A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for Southern Nevada for the same time frame and similar weather conditions.
(Red Flag Warnings can be modified throughout the day as NWS offices around the country update and revise their weather forecasts.)
The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings or Fire Weather Watches for areas in Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa, Texas, and Wisconsin. Utah again miraculously avoids extreme fire weather.
The Red Flag Warning map was current at 11 a.m. MDT on Sunday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts.
Some of the areas will have similar conditions on Tuesday
Most of the southern plains and the southwest will be under Red Flag Warnings on Monday, April 16. The strong, gusty winds and low humidity will continue into Tuesday for many of the areas. The eight states affected are California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming.
Utah miraculously avoided the weather that three of its neighbor states are experiencing. Forecasters there often march to a different drummer regarding Red Flag Warnings.
The Red Flag Warning map was current at 10 a.m. MDT on Monday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts.
Red Flag Warnings have been issued for portions of California, Nevada, and Arizona today. One of the areas affected is the western part of the Thomas Fire in Santa Barbara County where the winds will be northwest to northeast at 15 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 while the relative humidity lowers to 20 to 40 percent.
The map was current as of 9:15 a.m. MST on Wednesday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts.
Red Flag Warnings have been issued for areas in Southern California and Colorado.
An extended period of Santa Ana offshore winds will continue through at least Sunday focused over much of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The winds today will be the weakest of the next three days with gusts generally in the 30 to 40 mph range, and more afternoon onshore flow nearer to the coast. The winds should increase Saturday and peak on Sunday with gusts in the 40 to 50 mph range (but still much weaker than Thursday). Meanwhile, minimum humidities of 5 to 10 percent will be common through at least the middle of next week, with widespread poor overnight recoveries mostly staying under 30 percent. As a result, critical Red Flag conditions will persist over most of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties through Sunday.
The map was current as of 11:45 a.m. MST on Friday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts.
