RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT: URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE - RECORD HIGH TEMPS ARE LIKELY

URGENT - CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA 642 AM PDT FRI JUN 7 2013

 RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY 

•  VERY HOT AND DRY WITH SOME BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS TODAY AND SATURDAY
•  STRONG HIGH PRESSURE OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TODAY AND SATURDAY WILL CAUSE VERY HOT TEMPERATURES AND DRY NORTHERLY BREEZES.
•  RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE LIKELY ALONG WITH VERY WARM OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES ESPECIALLY IN THERMAL BELT AREAS.
•  VERY LOW MINIMUM HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED DURING THE DAY ALONG WITH POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERY IN MANY AREAS OVERNIGHT.

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 213...215...263...266 AND 279...

 * AFFECTED AREA - FIRE WEATHER ZONE 213 EASTERN PORTION OF SHASTA/TRINITY NF, FIRE WEATHER ZONE 215 NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY TO SOUTHERN TEHAMA COUNTY LINE BELOW 1000 FT, FIRE WEATHER ZONE 263 SOUTHEAST EDGE SHASTA-TRINITY NF AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF TEHAMA-GLENN UNIT, FIRE WEATHER ZONE 266 NORTHERN SIERRA FOOTHILLS FROM 1000 TO 3000 FT. INCLUDES PORTIONS OF SHASTA-TRINITY AND BUTTE UNITS AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 279 EASTERN MENDOCINO NF.

 * WIND - NORTH 10 TO 15 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 25 MPH. 

 * HUMIDITY - MINIMUM 8 TO 14 PERCENT DURING THE DAY AND POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERY TO 30 TO 45 PERCENT OVERNIGHT IN MANY AREAS. 

 * IMPACTS - ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. 

* FOR A DETAILED VIEW OF THE HAZARD AREA VISIT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SACRAMENTO/HAZARDS

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS - A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND HOT TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

Red Flag Warnings & Fire Weather Watches

The National Weather Service issues Red Flag Warnings & Fire Weather Watches to alert fire departments of the onset, or possible onset, of critical weather and dry conditions that could lead to rapid or dramatic increases in wildfire activity.

A Red Flag Warning is issued for weather events which may result in extreme fire behavior that will occur within 24 hours. A Fire Weather Watch is issued when weather conditions could exist in the next 12-72 hours. A Red Flag Warning is the highest alert. During these times extreme caution is urged by all residents, because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire. A Fire Weather Watch is one level below a warning, but fire danger is still high.

The type of weather patterns that can cause a watch or warning include low relative humidity, strong winds, dry fuels, the possibility of dry lightning strikes, or any combination of the above.

During heightened fire danger, CAL FIRE will place additional firefighters on duty, staff more fire engines and keep more equipment on 24 hours a day to be able to respond to any new fires. CAL FIRE urges Californians to be extremely cautious, especially during Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches. A few helpful reminders and safety tips include:

	1. Equipment Use Safety Any mowing or weed eating should be done before 10 a.m. & after 6 p.m. (and NEVER during extremely dry conditions). Never use lawn mowers in dry vegetation. Spark arresters are required in wildland areas on all portable gasoline powered equipment.
	2. Campfire Safety Before starting a campfire, make sure you have a campfire permit and that they are permitted on the land you are visiting. Afterwards, ensure that your campfire is properly extinguished.
	3. Defensible Space Residents should make sure they have 100 feet of defensible space around structures. Clear dead weeds and vegetation. Remove leaves and needles from gutters. Trim branches 6 feet from the ground.
	4. Other Make sure cigarette butts are properly extinguished.

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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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