It's Going to Get Hot. Fire Weather Warning in Effect This Weekend for North Bay

As the Bay Area gears up for triple digit temperatures this weekend, officials are warning conditions are already ripe for wildfires.

The National Weather Service has issued a red-flag fire weather warning for parts of the North Bay this weekend due to a dangerous combination of gusty winds, high temperatures, and low humidity.

The warning extends from 11 p.m. Friday to 11 p.m. Saturday, and covers regions of higher elevation in Napa County and far eastern Sonoma County.

Northeast winds will strengthen overnight Friday followed by warmer and drier conditions on Saturday, according to the service.

Winds of 15 miles per hour to 30 mph are expected, with gusts up to 40 mph. Daytime humidity is expected to drop to the 10 to 20 percent range, recovering poorly at night to less than 30 percent. Those numbers will drop to the single digits in the driest locations.

The dry and windy conditions mean any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Forecasters are asking residents to avoid activities that may trigger a fire, including lawn work, driving on grass, tossing cigarettes, campfires, or fireworks.

A red flag warning has been issued and will go in effect tomorrow night. Here’s a look at what kind of wind speeds and humidity values we are expecting for a few select locations in Napa county. RHs will likely drop into the upper single digits for the driest areas. #cawx pic.twitter.com/HLPO1V9KVh

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) June 28, 2018

The service also issued a moderate risk warning for heat related illnesses for the East and North Bay, with inland temperatures on Friday soaring close to 100 degrees. Saturday will experience even warmer weather, up to 105 degrees.

At least a dozen wind-driven wildfires broke out last weekend throughout rural regions in Northern California, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes.

The largest blaze, the Pawnee Fire in Lake County, has scorched 13,700 acres and destroyed 12 homes since it began on Saturday. The blaze is 56 percent contained as of Friday morning, according to Cal Fire.

In response to this weekend’s fire weather warning, Sonoma County officials have issued evacuation guidelines.

For important updates on this weekend’s weather warning, follow the Bay Area’s National Weather Service on Twitter.