Northern California 7 Day Significant Fire Potential

Very Dry and Warm Weather Will Continue Through at Least Tuesday January 21!

A very strong ridge of high pressure aloft will continue to produce warm and dry weather throughout the North Ops area through Tuesday. Periods of N-NE/Offshore surface winds will enhance these conditions from the western Sierra slopes to the coast, especially on Monday and Tuesday. Maximum temperatures will continue to be 15-25 degrees above normal. However, one exception will continue to be the valleys and canyons in far Northern CA, where strong inversions have trapped cold air and stratus in for several days. This pattern will also continue.

On Wednesday the high will weaken as a weak disturbance passes near far NW CA on its way to OR. This feature will turn winds to onshore and bring clouds and higher RH to much of the North Ops area. It is expected that the high pressure will return late in the week.

Fuels/Fire Potential

With unusually parched fuels and much more ground snow-free than is typical, Northern CA will continue to be subject to initial attack activity and also continue to see increased risk for larger fires whenever in significant and/or widespread wind events. At this time, no "High Risk" has been issued, but all PSAs will be predominantly Dry to Very Dry starting Saturday.

Our Region is in Severe to locally Extreme drought conditions covering nearly all of Northern California. Details can be seen at: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA