Crime & Safety

Weather Service Issues Fire Warning for Bay Area

A chance of dry lightning has prompted a red flag fire warning for the Bay Area.

By Bay City News

A chance of dry lightning hitting the Bay Area today and Monday has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for fire danger, a forecaster said.

The low-pressure front moving into the region as early as this afternoon brings a chance of showers, isolated thunderstorms and dry lightning through Tuesday, National Weather Service forecaster Bob Benjamin said.

Lightning strikes combined with extremely dry conditions across inland hills and valleys could bring significant fire danger, prompting the red flag warning for counties in the North and East Bay across San Mateo County to the Santa Cruz Mountains, Benjamin said.

Though there is a 20 to 30 percent chance of rain accompanying the front, there is "little chance of rain ever hitting the surface," Benjamin said.

Cal Fire has said additional firefighters will be placed on duty during the heightened fire danger.

The red flag warning goes into effect at midnight tonight and will remain in effect until noon on Tuesday.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.


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