The National Weather Service has raised alarms for critical fire weather conditions expected to sweep through interior Northern California, issuing a Red Flag Warning for the Central Valley and Delta regions from 10 AM PST today through 4 PM PST tomorrow. According to the latest bulletin, gusty north winds combined with extremely dry conditions are heightening fire risks, urging residents and authorities to prepare for potential hazards.
Winds are forecast to pick up later this morning, gusting between 25 and 35 mph due to an upper-level shortwave moving from British Columbia and bringing northerly blasts to the Valley, as per the National Weather Service in Sacramento, CA. The wind event continues into Wednesday, with minimum daytime humidity dropping into the teens and low twenties, creating dry fuel for potential fires. Local firefighters remain on high alert, ready to respond instantly to any ignition.
Alongside the fire warning, an advisory for strong winds has been flagged, kicking off at 10 PM PST today and spilling over into tomorrow at 6 PM PST, specifically targeting areas from Interstate 5 westward and south of the Coastal Range into the Delta—where gusts may exceed 45 mph. Overnight humidity levels are not expected to offer much reprieve and are tipped to hover around 35% to 50% in areas most influenced by the north winds.
The rest of the week’s weather is expected to hold steady, with daytime highs in the upper 60s to mid-70s across the Delta and Valley. Nighttime lows may dip slightly on Thursday and Friday but without significant frost. Heading into the weekend, meteorologists at the National Weather Service note a weak shortwave passing the Pacific Northwest, which could bring a few isolated showers to northern areas. However, precipitation chances remain uncertain, ranging from 20% to 40%.
Peering further ahead, the aviation sector is set to face VFR (Visual Flight Rules) conditions but should prep for elevated winds starting late this morning, with peak gusts potentially reaching whirlwind heights of 30 to 50 kts after 06z Wednesday, as reported by the NWS. This weather scenario sketches a challenging tableau for aviation and grounded operations alike, with the Delta region and the Sierra fronts standing as the watch points for the heaviest gusts.
