LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A forecast for gusty winds from the north coupled with low humidity has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a fire weather watch for Lake and many other counties around the region for Monday and Tuesday.
The watch, issued on Friday, will be in effect from 2 a.m. Monday until 5 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.
A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur, the agency reported.
The National Weather Service said gusty northerly winds will increase through the day Monday in the wake of a dry cold front, with winds ramping up and poor humidity recoveries over the ridges of eastern Lake County late Sunday Night.
Forecasters said the strongest winds will be found over exposed high terrain and north to south oriented valleys Monday afternoon and evening.
Minimum humidity of 15 to 25% is expected on Monday; overnight, recoveries could range from 25 to 50%, and 60 to 70% in sheltered areas like valleys, the National Weather Service said.
During the fire weather watch, north winds are forecast to range from 15 to 25 miles per hour, with gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour over exposed ridgetops.
Winds are expected to calm and humidity to recover on Tuesday morning, but the forecast said that the winds will remain brisk across mountain ridges over Lake County with poor recoveries. Those windy conditions will continue through Tuesday afternoon and evening.
The National Weather Service said it’s those breezy conditions combined with low humidity that could lead to critical fire conditions.
Ahead of the fire weather watch, the forecast expected the potential for scattered showers overnight Friday and into early Saturday.
The long range forecast also contains the potential for very light rain in the county on Wednesday.
During the coming week, the forecast expects daytime temperatures ranging from the low 60s early in the week to the high 70s late next week.
Nighttime conditions are forecast in the coming days to range from the high 30s to low 40s.
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National Weather Service issues fire weather watch for Lake County
- Elizabeth Larson