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The risk of dry lightning and gusty winds plunged much of the bay area into a red flag warning that was scheduled to start Sunday morning and last until Monday evening.
The forecasts and warnings, announced by the National Weather Service, focused on the highest elevations, including the North Bay and Santa Cruz Mountains as well as the East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range.
The warning indicates critical fire weather conditions, with a combination of low humidity, hot temperatures and strong wings.
Just under a year ago, thunderstorms accompanied by spectacular dry lightning sparked a series of fires in the Bay Area and northern California.
Clusters of forest fires have drawn more than 19,000 firefighters to the region, with the fires charring nearly 2 million aces and destroying more than 2,000 structures.
Current conditions, however, lack the influence of a tropical storm, which fueled the seat of lightning last year, said Drew Peterson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
“We don’t have that this time around,” he said. “This is the most important distinction.”
And in August 2020, there was record heat before the thunderstorms, so it was extremely hot, extremely dry, which dried up all fuels, he added.
Peterson said the forecast showed a one in four to one in eight chance the Bay Area would be struck by lightning this time around.
That said, the system that triggered the red flag warning was over San Diego on Saturday night and locals saw lightning there, he said.
Residents in the area have been urged to be aware of the weather and have a fire plan.
Jill Tucker is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @jilltucker
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