Red Flag Warnings take effect Thursday for the Sierra Nevada, Kern County mountains and the Los Angeles and Ventura County mountains, with Santa Ana winds gusting 50 to 70 mph and humidity as low as 8 percent.
Any fire that starts will spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. Three National Weather Service offices issued warnings that run into Friday.
Los Angeles and Ventura County Mountains
The warning runs 6 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. PDT Friday.
Winds: northeast to east at 20 to 40 mph, with gusts of 50 to 70 mph.
Humidity: minimums of 8 to 20 percent.
Areas: the Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains, Ventura County mountains, the Interstate 5 Corridor, the Highway 14 Corridor, and the San Gabriel Mountains.
NWS Los Angeles said winds peak Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon, and the windiest areas may stay at Red Flag conditions into Saturday. A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for the interior mountains of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties on Friday.
The risk is rated high for extreme fire behavior with any new fire start. Residents near wildland areas should be ready to evacuate.
Kern County Mountains: Tehachapi and Fort Tejon
NWS Hanford upgraded its Fire Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning from 3 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. PDT Friday.
Strong east winds are expected. The chance of gusts over 40 mph is 40 to 60 percent Thursday and 70 to 90 percent Friday. Humidity will bottom out at 15 to 25 percent both days.
The highest threat runs from Pine Mountain Club through Frazier Park to Fort Tejon. The warning also covers the Tehachapi area.
Southern and Central Sierra Nevada
NWS Hanford’s second warning runs 3 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. PDT Friday for elevations above 4,000 feet.
It covers the Central Sierra, North Kings River, Sequoia Kings and Lake Isabella zones. Northeast winds are expected, with a 70 to 90 percent chance of gusts over 40 mph Thursday and 40 to 60 percent Friday.
Humidity will be 15 to 25 percent. The highest threat is from 4,000 feet to the Sierra crest.
Northern Sierra and Foothills
NWS Sacramento’s warning runs midnight tonight to 10 a.m. PDT Friday.
Winds: northeast to east at 15 to 25 mph, with gusts of 25 to 45 mph.
Humidity: 10 to 25 percent by day, with single digits possible and very poor overnight recovery.
Areas: the Sierra and adjacent foothills in Tehama, Plumas, Yuba, Placer, Sierra, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties.
Safety Reminders
A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are occurring or will shortly.
Avoid anything that can spark a fire, including yard work, target shooting, campfires and dragging trailer chains.
Secure outdoor items, and drive carefully in high winds.
Prepare an evacuation plan and a go-bag. See readyforwildfire.org.
For live updates, follow NWS Los Angeles, NWS Hanford and NWS Sacramento on X.
