Chances of dry lightning decrease, but Bay Area’s fire danger remains
The chances of the Bay Area experiencing dry lightning dropped considerably Sunday, though much of the region remained under a red flag warning.
Drew Peterson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the monsoonal high pressure system, the reason for the warning, had expanded further west and north than initially expected, changing the path of the moisture and “significantly (lowering) our chances of seeing dry lightning in our area.”
Still, he said, there was a “marginal risk” the Bay Area could experience the sort of thunderstorms and lightning strikes that, in years past, have sparked wildfires across Northern California.
According to current forecasts, he said, lightning would be most likely to occur between 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday, with the highest chances in the morning.
A red flag warning signaling high fire danger is in effect in parts of the region from 5 p.m.
Sunday to 5 p.m. Monday — particularly in higher elevations, including in the North Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, East Bay hills and Diablo Range.
Meanwhile, gusting winds and gathering storm systems fanned two major wildfires burning in the Sierra Nevada on Sunday.
In Alpine County south of Lake Tahoe, firefighters battling the 18,299acre Tamarack Fire worked as a storm system entered the region, bringing some rain and also lightning strikes to the dry terrain. U.S.
Forest Service officials said firefighters were defending structures in the town of Markleeville as well as Sierra Pines, Shay Creek and Hung A Lel Ti communities. Officials closed a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail.
The Tamarack Fire was wholly uncontained, having grown dramatically since it was an estimated 500 acres Thursday. The fire sent a dramatic pyrocumulonimbus cloud into the sky Sunday.
The Dixie Fire in Butte and Plumas counties threatened the communities of Jonesville and Philbrook, about 30 miles north of Paradise, leading sheriff ’s officials to order residents there to evacuate. Authorities also shut down a portion of Highway 70 near Jarbo Gap as burning rocks and vegetation began tumbling downhill onto the road below, Cal Fire Operations section chief Tony Brownell said. The fire grew to 18,702 acres and was 15% contained as of Sunday night.
Firefighters also continued working Sunday to contain the Sugar Fire within the 103,348acre Beckwourth Complex in the Plumas National Forest. U.S. Forest Service officials reported the fire showed little growth. The complex was 82% contained Sunday.