textproduct: Sacramento

KEY MESSAGES

- Renewed fire weather conditions over the weekend and into early next week due to gusty winds and low daytime humidity

- Red Flag Warning in place for portions of northern California from 11 AM PDT Saturday through 11 AM PDT Monday

- Notable cool down over the weekend, with near to below normal temperatures expected

DISCUSSION

Today-Monday: Mostly clear skies observable today, though as onshore flow increases and the ridging of the past few days breaks down, temperatures are expected to be a bit cooler today than earlier this week. Highs today will still be above normal, with Valley temperatures in the low to mid 90s. Further cooling will occur Saturday as a low progresses inland over the Pacific Northwest.

Breezy southerly winds begin this afternoon, with strongest gusts today expected in and near the Delta and over the Sierra Crest. On Saturday, winds will pick up further, with gusts of 25 to 35 mph expected by the late morning/early afternoon. Combined with lingering higher than normal temperatures and low daytime humidities, we're expecting elevated fire weather conditions in much of northern California. In particular, the northern half of the Sacramento Valley and portions of the northern foothills will see critical fire weather conditions, and so a Red Flag Warning is in place starting Saturday at 11 AM PDT and ending on Monday at 11 AM PDT. Winds will be strongest on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings, with slightly weaker winds in the morning on Sunday as they transition in direction from south and westerly, around to north and easterly. Relative humidities will be generally low, especially in the warned area, around 10 to 25% during the day.

Tuesday-Thursday: Tuesday and onward, weak troughing will remain over NorCal, maintaining near normal temperatures and periodically breezy winds. Be sure to follow the forecast at weather.gov for any updates!

AVIATION

VFR conditions prevail at TAF sites across the forecast period. Winds in most areas will remain at 12 kts or less for the forecast period, except in the Delta and isolated Valley locations. West- southwest winds in the Delta will gust 20 to 25 kts starting at 21z today, northern San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento sites seeing occasional gusts up to 15 kts after 22z.

STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from 11 AM Saturday to 11 AM PDT Monday for Butte County Below 1000 ft-Central Colusa County Incl. I-5- Central Glenn Co & Interstate 5-Eastern Colusa County-Eastern Glenn County-Glenn/Colusa Coast Range Above 3000 ft-N. Sac Valley in Tehama County-Shasta Metro-Sierra (Tehama-Plumas) 1000- 3000 ft-Sutter/Yuba counties below 1000 ft-W. Glenn/Colusa Foothills 1000-3000 ft.