Red Flag Warning for Gusty Winds

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR THE SANTA YNEZ RANGE AND THE SOUTH COAST OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 3 AM PDT TUESDAY. 

IMPACTS:

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now….or will shortly. A combination of strong winds…low relative humidity…and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior which would threaten life and property.

Winds: Northwest to north winds 15-30 mph with gusts between 35 and 50 mph. The strongest winds are expected from Goleta westward this evening, but the winds are expected to shift to the northeast overnight and will likely impact the foothills above Montecito and Santa Barbara overnight. 

Relative Humidity: 10 to 15 percent. 

FIRE WEATHER ZONES:

 

The National Weather Service has created five Fire Weather Zones within Santa Barbara County. They are as follows:

Santa Barbara County Central Coast – CAZ235

Defined on the north by the county line; on the west by the coast; on the south by a line from Point Conception to the 1,000 foot contour to the Gaviota Pass; on the east by a north-south line from the county line through the town of Garey to Highway 101.

Santa Ynez Valley – CAZ236

Defined on the north by the county line; on the west by a north-south line from the county line through Garey to Highway 101; on the south and east by the 1,500 foot contour of the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Cuyama Valley – CAZ238

Defined on the north and east by the county line; on the west and south by the 3,000 foot contour of the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Santa Barbara County South Coast – CAZ239

Defined on the west by a line from Point Conception north to the 1,000 foot contour; on the east by the 1,000 foot contour to Gaviota Pass by the 1,500 foot contour from the Gaviota Pass to the county line; on the east by the county line; on the south by the coast. This zone contains the Gaviota Pass.  In addition, “No Parking” Red Flag Warning flip down signs located in the Mission Canyon area of Station 15’s District will be deployed during a Red Flag Warning. Parking enforcement will begin 12 hours after the flip down signs are deployed.

Santa Barbara County Mountains – CAZ252

Defined on the north and east by the county line; on the south and west by the 1,500 foot contour of the Sierra Madre Mountains; on the northeast by the 3,000 foot contour of the Sierra Madre Mountains.

DEFINITIONS

High Risk Day: Notice issued by the Predictive Services Units in Riverside and Redding indicating that there is a 20% chance of either a new large fire occurring or a significant growth of an existing fire.

Fire Weather Watch: Notice issued to alert fire agencies to the high potential for development of a Red Flag event in the 18-96 hour time frame. The Watch may be issued for all or selected portions of a fire weather zone or zones.

Red Flag Warning: Notice issued to inform agencies of the impending or occurring Red Flag conditions. A Red Flag Warning is issued when there is high confidence that Red Flag criteria will be met within the next 48 hours or less or criteria are already being met. Longer lead times are allowed when confidence is very high or the fire danger situation is critical. The Warning may be issued for all or selected portions of a fire weather zone or zones.

Click here to see a map of the fire weather zones in your area

RED FLAG WARNING CRITERIA

• Relative humidity is 15% or less with either sustained winds of 25 mph or greater or frequent gusts of 35 mph or greater for a duration of 6 hours or more.
• Relative humidity is 10% or less with either sustained winds of 15 mph or greater or frequent gusts of 25 mph or greater for a duration of 6 hours or more.
• Widespread and/or significant dry lightning where there is little or no rainfall associated with the lightning activity.
• The discretion of the Fire Chief.

As a result of the issuance of the Red Flag Warning, citizens should take appropriate precautions.  These precautions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Report any sign of smoke immediately to your local fire department by calling 911 (if your call 911 from your cell phone, you must know your location).
• Use extreme caution when operating spark of flame producing machinery in hazardous grass or brush areas.
• Have an evacuation plan in place and identify two exit routes from your neighborhood.  If you are asked to evacuate by fire or law enforcement officials, do so immediately.
• Report any suspicious persons or vehicles to law enforcement.

 

FIRE WEATHER WATCH CRITERIA

A separate but less imminent forecast may include a Fire Weather Watch:

• Alerts fire and land management agencies of weather and critically dry fuels that could lead to dangerous wildfires and extreme fire behavior.
• Enables firefighting agencies to manage critical resources and prepare appropriate suppression responses for protecting life and property.
• Watches are typically issued generally 12 to 72 hours in advance of potential critical fire weather conditions.