Red flag warnings hit Norcal for high winds

Most of Northern California is facing fire weather conditions this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency issued a red flag warning on Friday for a large portion of Northern California, extending from Eureka to Sacramento to Modesto to the Bay Area, due to gusty northerly and easterly winds, as well as low humidity, leading to an increased risk of fire danger. The highest threat, according to the warning, is along the west side of the Sacramento Valley.

The warning goes into effect at 5 a.m. today to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The agency previously issued a fire weather watch for parts of Northern California, including Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, Chico and Redding. It also issued a wind advisory from 8 a.m. today to 2 p.m. Sunday.

North-to-east winds are expected to top to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

Areas not under a red flag warning, mainly along the Sierra foothills, remain part of a wind advisory through 2 p.m. Sunday for winds between 20 and 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph or higher, especially in “higher elevations and through gaps and canyons.”

The weather service advises people to practice fire prevention methods, such as avoiding burning outdoors, steering clear of equipment that causes sparks, not parking on dry grass and discarding cigarettes properly.

The UC Berkeley

Central Sierra Snow Lab recorded nearly 4 inches on Wednesday, above what was forecast for the region.

The research field station is located at the Donner Pass near Truckee. The lab measured 3.9 inches of snow in a 24 hour period, according to the snow lab’s website.

Snow levels were slightly higher than the 1 to 3 inches of snow predicted, according to a Thursday post from the lab on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Significant snowfalls in past years

The first major snowfall in the Central Sierra Snow Lab has happened as early as Oct. 2 and as late as Nov. 26 over the years, according to the snow lab.