UPDATED 9/9, 2:00 PM: The National Weather Service upgraded the Fire Weather Watch issued yesterday to a Red Flag Warning for much of the Bay Area including all of Sonoma County for dry lightning potential from Thursday afternoon (9/9) through Friday morning (9/10). Thunderstorms will be more dry than wet, and given how dry vegetation currently is, any lightning strikes will be problematic. The threat for thunderstorms diminishes early Friday as the moisture exits eastward.
– AFFECTED AREA: All of Sonoma Valley and Sonoma County
– TIMING: Thursday at 5PM through Friday at 11AM
– WINDS: West 5 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Gusty and erratic winds near developed storms
– LIGHTNING: Isolated to scattered dry thunderstorms will be possible Thursday afternoon through early Friday
– IMPACTS: Given the dry fuels, any cloud to ground lightning strikes have the potential of starting new wildfires.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS:
A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings. Visit: https://www.sonomacity.org/departments/emergency-prep/