Bay Area residents are advised to exercise caution as the National Weather Service (NWS) San Francisco has issued a Red Flag Warning set to remain effective through 7 AM Thursday, citing critical fire weather conditions. According to the National Weather Service notification, inhabitants should plan, prepare, and stay vigilant during this period, as evacuations can occur with little warning.
In addition to the fire warning, the region is also under a Wind Advisory, with the North Bay Interior Mountains expected to experience northerly winds of 30-40 mph with stronger gusts up to 60 mph and even higher gusts exceeding 70 mph above 2,500 feet until 3 PM Wednesday. This situation has prompted officials to urge the community to secure any loose objects and to be prepared for possible power disruptions caused by the strong winds.
The extended forecast shared by the NWS indicates that while winds may subside somewhat this afternoon, low relative humidity is expected to persist overnight, which could continue to stoke fire weather concerns. A detailed breakdown of this situation was provided in the Area Forecast Discussion, highlighting the interplay between relative humidity and wind speeds in determining Red Flag Warning thresholds.
Looking ahead, meteorologists anticipate a gradual weakening of winds by Thursday as the cutoff low moves eastward and the pressure gradient relaxes. However, poor overnight relative humidity recovery might remain critical to near-critical conditions through Friday. The forecast has a silver lining: the possibility of rainfall by the weekend, potentially alleviating some of the fire weather risk in the region.
Mariners are also advised to be cautious as northerly flows over coastal waters will influence the marine environment. Fire personnel and the NWS continue to monitor the offshore gradient that is responsible for the heightened fire weather conditions. "The peak winds are forecast through mid morning then they'll gradually weaken through the day. Lower RH will persist keeping fire weather concerns in place," noted the National Weather Service while discussing the ongoing situation. Winds are expected to substantially reduce within the week, which may eventually allow for the lift of the Red Flag Warning.
