Red Flag Has New Meaning Here in California

Never heard of the Red Flag Warning for weather until yesterday when they had the fire in Montecito (on the coast by Santa Barbara) and then again today inland in Sylmar (near San Fernando). Both are approximately 450 miles south of where we are north of Sacramento.

United States National Weather Service describes a Red Flag Warning:

A Red Flag Warning is a forecast warning to inform area firefighting and land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildland fire ignition and propagation. After drought conditions, and when humidity is very low, and especially when high or erratic winds which may include lightning are a factor, the Red Flag Warning becomes a critical statement for firefighting agencies, which often alter their staffing and equipment resources dramatically to accommodate the forecast risk. To the public, a Red Flag Warning means high fire danger with increased probability of a quickly spreading vegetation fire in the area within 24 hours.

The weather criteria for fire weather watches and red flag warnings varies with each Weather Service Office’s warning area based on the local vegetation type, topography, and distance from major water sources but usually includes the daily vegetation moisture content calculations, expected afternoon high temperature, afternoon minimum relative humidity and daytime wind speed.

Listening to the local news reports -- real scary because they are like fire storms with high winds, embers flying and high heat.