Overview
- The National Weather Service put a Red Flag Warning in effect for the Central Coast and Santa Cruz Mountains from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, covering Big Sur, the Salinas and Carmel valleys, the Santa Lucia range and nearby interior areas.
- Forecasters say thunderstorms are possible but will likely produce little rain, while rain‑cooled outflow winds could be gusty and erratic with gusts to 40–50 mph.
- The warning overlays two active Big Sur incidents: the Timber Fire at about 19,000 acres and roughly 21% containment and the newer Plaskett Fire near 140–200 acres with zero containment, with more than 1,000 firefighters assigned.
- Weather experts say forecast confidence is low because models disagree on thunderstorm development, and the NWS also warned of a marginal flash‑flood risk in high Sierra terrain.
- Local officials urged residents to avoid spark‑producing activities, secure tow chains, prepare go‑kits and evacuation plans, and noted that dry lightning has triggered some of the region’s largest recent fires.