Updated May 9
Much of the Central Valley stretching from Redding to Modesto will be under a red flag warning through Tuesday as dry, windy conditions increase the risk of wildfires.
⚠️ NEW: The Red Flag Warning has been extended through 6 PM Tuesday for the western portions of the Valley, Delta and Coastal Range.
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) May 9, 2021
Breezy winds continue through the day Tuesday with very dry conditions. Be sure to practice fire weather safety! #cawx pic.twitter.com/yQiCqG5qZ4
The red flag warning was initially set to expire Monday before being extended Sunday.
"And these dry winds will lower the humidity creating critical fire weather conditions over a large portion of the valley and surrounding foothills this weekend," said Jim Matthews, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento.
The red flag warning is in place from 11 p.m. Friday through 6 p.m., Tuesday. The danger is that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly because of the winds combined with brittle vegetation from the lack of rain.
"There'll be even easier fire starts in the dry fuels and then, of course with the winds, the winds will tend to drive those fires quite rapidly given the dry fuel conditions in the area," Matthews said.
Last year wildfires burned 4 million acres in the state, and experts worry a dry winter could lead to another worse than average fire season. Gov. Gavin Newsom has already declared a drought emergency in parts of Northern California.
