The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the interior North Bay mountains between Tuesday and Wednesday nights because of hot and windy conditions that could lead to the quick spread of wildfires.
The warning is in effect from 11 p.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Wednesday and the weather service said the conditions for rapid fire spread will be most prominent in the higher elevations of eastern Napa County.
The forecast is for gusty north winds of 35 to 40 mph in higher terrains in Napa County, and inland parts of the Bay Area could see temperatures in the mid to high 90s Wednesday.
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This is the first Red Flag Warning issued since October 2021 by the Bay Area office of the weather service, which is telling people to avoid outdoor activities that could spark a fire while the warning is in effect.
Forecasters say cooler weather is expected in the region by the end of the week and through the weekend, with a chance of small amounts of precipitation across the North Bay on Saturday morning and afternoon.
A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are forecasted. A combination of low relative humidity, high winds, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Meanwhile, Napa County is among seven counties on PG&E's Public Safety Power Shutoff watch for Wednesday, according to the utility.
Weather officials in the Bay Area have also issued a Spare the Air alert for Wednesday due to unhealthy smog.
