24 hour California Fire Weather outlook

Monday, May 18, 2009

24 hour California Fire Weather outlook

Southern California Geographic Area Preparedness Level 2, MACS Mode 2.
Thunderstorm with dry lightning potential during the next 24 hrs.

Northern California Geographic Area Preparedness Level 1, MACS Mode 1.
Thunderstorm with dry lightning potential during the next 24 hrs.

A change in the weather pattern today...with continued hot weather...but as the strong high pressure over us this weekend shifts eastward into the Great Basin, a S to SE upper level flow will bring in some monsoonal moisture and instability. This will all come together to bring Nrn CA its first summertime thunderstorm outbreak of the season later today. Best chances will be along the Sierra...as far north as Susanville.
Also a slight chance of thunderstorms along the coastal range as far north as the Bay Area.Most of the storms along the coastal range will be dry...with a mix of dry and wet storms over the Sierra. However, the combination of only moderate fuel dryness along with live fuel moistures should limit any ignitions to small runs...mainly on S to W aspects. For this reason NO high risk days are posted. A cold front drops down from the Pacific NW tonight thru midweek, with clearing, and cooling.
However gusty SW to W winds expected across the Eastside and NE CA.

Initial attack will likely increase throughout the North Ops region this week...primarily due to thunderstorm potential during the next 24 hrs...as well as SW winds across the Eastside and NE CA late today into Tuesday. Another SW wind episode possible for the Eastside/NE CA late in the week...and this should cause continued drying of fuels and the 1st introduction of Very Dry Fuels to PSA NC08 by the end of the week. Again...lightning strikes today will be primarily dry, but with live fuels should result mainly in ignitions, with small runs on mainly south-west aspects, but little potential of large fires at this time.

Source: Northern California Geographic Area - Link

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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Monday, May 18, 2009