The North State is on alert for elevated wildfire danger beginning Wednesday, with a red flag warning in effect for the northern Sacramento Valley and possible power shutoffs in parts of the region.
Sara Purdue, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s office in Sacramento, said the agency expects gusty winds and low humidity will create critical fire weather conditions.
She said people in the warning area should be prepared in case a fire breaks out by knowing where to go and having a go bag ready.
“Fires can spark and grow very quickly under conditions where a red flag warning is in place,” Purdue said. “So be prepared and have a plan for if a fire does start near you.”
Purdue said a red flag warning is more serious than a fire weather watch, which is more of an earlier heads up.
“A watch is generally issued a little bit further ahead of an event, and it means that in this case critical fire weather conditions are possible,” she said, “whereas a red flag warning means that they are happening or going to happen very soon.”
The red flag warning begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday and lasts until 5 p.m. Thursday.
PG&E said it will likely shut off power in several North State counties, including Colusa, Glenn, Tehama and Sutter.
The red flag warning will overlap with a heat advisory that begins on Thursday and lasts until Saturday.
