As Northern California braces for a bout of warm and dry weather, the tension over potential fire hazards is kindling. The National Weather Service in Sacramento has issued a forecast predicting that this warmer trend will continue well into next week, bringing with it heightened concerns for fire safety. According to their latest Area Forecast Discussion, daytime highs in the Central Valley could reach into the 90s, with certain locales possibly touching the triple-digit threshold.
The mercury isn’t the only thing rising; so too is the wind. Beginning this weekend, some breezy north winds are slated to sweep through the valley, chiefly during the late morning and afternoon hours. This activity, according to the NWS forecast, could lead to “elevated fire weather conditions,” especially when paired with plummeting humidity as next Monday and Tuesday roll around. In the late-mornings into the afternoons, the winds will support what seems to be a paradox of warmer temperatures and cooler breezes.
Yet, there’s a silver lining scheduled for midweek as a short wave trough is expected to nudge into the Pacific Northwest. The change in atmospheric pressure should invite an increased onshore flow, meaning cooler temperatures could temper the region by Wednesday or Thursday. The NWS promises a return to “near normal” high temperatures, before conditions mild up slightly again as we head toward next weekend. These updates suggest that the spell of intense heat could start loosening its grip…