A high wind advisory in effect today through 2 p.m. plus expected temperatures in the 80s means East Bay residents should take precautions to prevent wildfires, according to the National Weather Service Bay Area.
Relative humidities across the Bay Area have dropped 15% to 25%, with dry offshore winds overnight further exacerbating the situation — kicking off Wildfire Awareness Month with an exclamation point.
“Several stations across the North Bay interior have even met red flag criteria for several hours of time,” the NWS said. “The main limiting factor is that most fuels have remained moist after the past winter season, but North and East Bay residents should still follow local advice on outdoor burning and take caution around open flames, including campfires and outdoor stoves, as any fires that do start could still spread quite rapidly via the gusty winds.”
Wind gusts are expected to reach 35 to 45 mph in the North Bay interior mountains and East Bay hills during the wind advisory timeframe, diminishing in the afternoon.
Monday’s high temperatures are expected to range from the low to mid 80s in the inland valleys, to the upper 70s and the lower 80s along San Francisco Bay. Highs will then drop to the high 60s and low 70s for the rest of the week.
For more information about wildfire preparedness, visit Contra Costa Fire. If you’re interested in learning more about local fire prevention efforts, the next meeting of the West Contra Costa Fire Safe Council is today at noon via Zoom.
The agenda is packed with reports on the new state wildfire maps, which slightly expanded the “high risk” zones in west Contra Costa County, as well as discussions about subdivisions with limited access in high–fire–risk areas, including Monte Verde Road in El Sobrante and Hilltop Green in Richmond.
