Red Flag Warning For The Mother Lode, Stanislaus National Forest
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Mother Lode (1,000 to 3,000 feet) and the Stanislaus National Forest, which is in effect today from 8 AM this morning to 8 PM this evening.
Low pressure from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ivo is forecast to move through Northern California today bringing a chance of thunderstorms to the area.
While high level moisture and instability is expected to increase over the region, the lower levels will remain quite dry. This will result in the potential for dry thunderstorms with little or no rainfall. This follows several days of very hot and dry weather drying fuels.
Upslope or southwest winds will range from five to fifteen mph. There may be gusts up to twenty-five mph, over the ridges and higher peaks.
Minimum humidity will range from fifteen to twenty-five percent.
Fire starts from dry lightning.
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of gusty and erratic thunderstorm winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
