Dry, windy weather prompts wildfire concerns
Winds gusting 15 to 20 miles per hour combined with warm, dry conditions following recent weeks of fine, sun-drenched weather in the Mother Lode mean heightened fire concerns Tuesday.
Forecasters also say light mountain showers are possible Tuesday and Wednesday, with less than 0.10 inch of precipitation expected in Yosemite National Park. No rain is expected in Sonora and other foothill towns along Highway 49 in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties.
Recent weeks of sunshine also mean the spring thaw is beginning at higher elevations.
Authorities are warning people about cold, fast-moving waterways this week and weekend when Mother Lode temperatures are expected to warm up into the upper 70s and low 80s, warm enough to draw more people to some creeks, streams and rivers that are now carrying freezing cold snowmelt from high elevations in the Central Sierra.
“We’ve definitely been drying out, and the humidity levels are definitely low, too,” Sierra Littlefield, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento, said Monday in a phone interview. “It’s pretty dry out there.”
Clear, sunny weather with daytime highs in the high 60s is expected for Sonora on Tuesday.
Winds of 10 to 15 mph were expected Monday from Sacramento and Stockton to Sonora and Yosemite, with increasing winds Tuesday, 15 to 20 mph for Sonora, and 20 to 25 mph for Yosemite.
Farther east and contributing to fire weather conditions, a low-pressure system is expected to move across the Great Basin area that includes most of Nevada, half of Utah, and sections of Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon and California. That is expected to bring strong west to southwest winds across the eastern Sierra region, and coupled with low humidities, will bring critical fire weather conditions to much of the east side on Tuesday.
Wind impacts Tuesday in the Mother Lode could include easier fire starts and the potential for unsecured canopies or medical tents to be blown over, according to the National Weather Service. A coronavirus vaccine clinic scheduled Tuesday at the Sierra Bible Church parking lot off Tuolumne Road will happen regardless of wind forecasts, a Tuolumne County Public Health representative said Monday. If necessary, temporary canopies and awnings will be taken down.
Fire weather safety tips from the National Weather Service for the current wind event include: refrain from using lawn mowers on dry weeds and dry grass; properly dispose of cigarettes and matches; avoid using power equipment that creates sparks; and make sure vehicle parts, including tow chains, do not drag on the ground and create sparks.
The weak storm system bringing a chance of light, high-elevation showers is expected to clear out by Wednesday night, Littlefield said. The rest of this week and weekend are expected to be warm and dry in the Mother Lode.
Cold water safety tips from the National Weather Service include: always wear a life vest; keep an eye on children; know that even experienced swimmers can lose muscle control in cold water; and alcohol consumption enhances hypothermia.
Staff with Cal Fire’s Tuolumne- Calaveras Unit have also been urging and reminding residents to get involved with springtime fire preparedness, though to do so safely.
“With the warmer weather upon us, now is the time for residence to create 100 feet of defensible space around their home and to update their wildfire action plan,” Matthew Gilbert, a Cal Fire battalion chief with the Tuolumne-calaveras Unit, said in a recent announcement. “Home hardening and the clearing of vegetation around your property are a huge asset in supporting firefighting efforts should you be impacted by a wildfire.”
Burn permits will be required beginning May 1. Cal Fire is warning people that even though burn permits are not currently required, “you can be held liable if a fire escapes your control.”
There were three wildland fires caused by escaped debris burns in late March. Gilbert said on Monday that he was working on a misdemeanor violation for an escaped debris burn that burned onto two adjacent properties in early April in the Sheep Ranch area of Calaveras County.
Between March 1 and Monday, the unit responded to a total of 12 wildland fires caused by debris burning, Gilbert said Monday afternoon.
The 12 fires ranged in size from 23 acres for one in the Groveland area several weeks ago to several that were less than 0.01 acre each. The vast majority burned less than one acre each. The fires resulted in one citation and two cases being forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office, Gilbert said.
Many of the fires resulted in written warnings and educating property owners on corrective actions to take in the future, Gilbert said.
“Given the current weather conditions, it is important to take precautions to burn safely,” Gilbert said in a statement dated April 1. “This includes monitoring the weather, having clearance around any burn piles and extinguishing the burn piles as appropriate.”
For more information about creating and maintaining 100 feet of defensible space, making a wildfire action plan, burning safely, and online burn permits, visit www. Readyforwildfire.org.