Overview
- Monsoonal moisture is forecast to move into parts of California this weekend and linger into early next week.
- Forecasters warn the pattern favors dry thunderstorms that can produce lightning with little or no rain, which can ignite new fires.
- Lightning chances are uneven across the state, with roughly a 10% probability in the Bay Area and about 20%–25% in parts of the Sierra and other mountain zones.
- Some Sierra locations are expected to receive light wetting rains of about a tenth of an inch by Monday and Tuesday that may reduce local fire risk, while desert and valley areas could face gusty outflow winds and flash flooding.
- A red flag warning is already in effect for northeastern California for gusty winds and low humidity, and officials say lightning starts could increase demands on firefighting resources if ignitions occur.