Chance of dry lightning in S.F. Bay Area prompts fire weather watch

[Auggie]

San Francisco Chronicle / 7-16-21

Predicted thunderstorms gathering over the Bay Area Sunday afternoon raised concerns about the potential for lightning strikes to spark new wildfires across the drought-stricken region.

The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch Friday morning, noting that “given how dry the fuels are, any lightning strikes will be problematic” for their potential to start wildfires. The watch will take effect Sunday morning and last through Monday morning.

High-risk areas include the Santa Lucia Mountains, Los Padres National Forest, the mountains of San Benito County and interior Monterey County.

Lightning strikes were blamed for sparking many of the devastating wildfires that tore through California and the Bay Area last year.

Link (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-braces-for-chance-of-dry-lightning-this-16319933.php

National Weather Service tweet:

Link to tweet

Damn

[NH Ethylene]

1. My daughter and family lives in SF.

I worry a lot.

[Dream Girl]

2. If they live in the city, I don't think you need to worry about fires their.

I’m 15 miles south and it’s a different story. The hills and canyons outside my backyard are beautiful but they are like kindling.

[NH Ethylene]

4. That is frightening.

She came East to visit a few weeks ago and was surprised to experience rain for the first time in 8 or 9 months!

SF has always been damp with the moisture coming off the ocean, even if it doesn't rain, so I'm hoping the fires never progress to the city. But the smoke has been really bad for the past couple of years.

I hope you stay safe this fire season!

[Dream Girl]

5. It's actually been quite cool here. We've been gettin lots of fog past few weeks.

It’s 11:15 and the temperature is only 66 degrees. We might get to 72 degrees today.

[AllaN01Bear]

3. im in the foothils 3 hours to the east and we are on high fire danger alert.

(red flag warning)
https://www.wunderground.com/severe/us/ca/sonora/37.99,-120.39
pg and e weather . https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/emergency-preparedness/natural-disaster/wildfires/psps-weather-map.page?WT.mc_id=Vanity_weather

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

6. I live in NW Sonoma Co. and got the following email:

For our area which is Fire Zone 507
Currently from Sunday, July 18 at 5:00 p.m. through Monday, July 19 at 5:00 p.m.

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
147 PM PDT Sat Jul 17 2021

...Dry lightning potential Sunday into Monday...

.Upper level moisture will increase over the region Sunday
morning through Monday morning from the south. The upper level
moisture will accompany upper level instability increasing
chances for thunderstorm activity. Thunderstorms will be a mix of
dry and wet, but given how dry the fuels are any lightning
strikes will be problematic. The threat for thunderstorms
diminishes Monday afternoon as the moisture moves northward.

CAZ507-511-512-180500-
/O.UPG.KMTR.FW.A.0002.210719T0000Z-210719T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KMTR.FW.W.0003.210719T0000Z-210720T0000Z/
North Bay Mountains-East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range-
Santa Cruz Mountains-
147 PM PDT Sat Jul 17 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM SUNDAY TO 5 PM PDT MONDAY
FOR DRY LIGHTNING FOR HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 507
511 AND 512...

The National Weather Service in San Francisco has issued a Red
Flag Warning for lightning, which is in effect from 5 PM Sunday
to 5 PM PDT Monday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 507 North Bay Mountains,
Fire Weather Zone 511 East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range and
Fire Weather Zone 512 Santa Cruz Mountains.

* WIND...Given the potentially dry nature of thunderstorms gusty
and erratic winds will be possible with developed storms.

* TIMING...Thunderstorm threat most likely Sunday afternoon
through early Monday afternoon.

* LIGHTNING...Isolated dry thunderstorms will be possible Sunday
afternoon through early Monday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Given the dry fuels over the higher elevations, any
cloud to ground lightning strikes have the potential of starting
new wildfires.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now...or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior