Red Flag Warning, Extreme Heat Ahead In Napa County

NAPA COUNTY, CA — The North Bay will take the brunt of the incoming heat wave, and plummeting humidity will create increased fire risks through July 4 and into the long holiday weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

An excessive heat warning will take effect Tuesday morning in much of the North Bay and remain in place through Saturday evening. Forecasters on Monday warned extreme heat risks were expected across interior portions of Napa and Sonoma counties, with minimal overnight relief.

Afternoon highs will range from the upper 90s to 110 degrees for interior communities and land in the 70s to 80s along the coastline. New forecasts showed temperatures Tuesday afternoon as high as 111 degrees in Concord, 107 degrees in Cloverdale, 105 degrees in Santa Rosa, and 103 degrees in Napa.

The weather service shared a few reminders Monday to help neighbors stay healthy during dangerously high heat:

• Drink plenty of water and hydrating drinks such as electrolyte or sports drinks, especially at Independence Day events. Alcohol and caffeinated beverages are dehydrating. Be careful with alcohol consumption, especially during excessive heat this holiday!
• Suspend outdoor activities between the hours of 10 a.m and 7 p.m. Take frequent breaks in the shade or an air-conditioned environment if you must be outside.
• Swim near a lifeguard, with a lifejacket, and with a buddy if going to the water to cool off!
• Know the signs and differences between heat exhaustion and stroke. CALL 911 if heat stroke is suspected.
• Increased Fire Risk due to very low humidity: Do not set off fireworks or operate machinery that can spark and ignite near critically dry vegetation.

Fire concerns will be elevated throughout the holiday week, with relative humidity expected to drop as low as the mid-teens through Saturday. A red flag warning will be in place for the Marin and Sonoma coastal ranges through at least Tuesday and the North Bay interior mountains through Wednesday afternoon. Wind gusts are in the forecast Tuesday and Wednesday at higher elevations.

With July 4 celebrations on deck, the weather service urged neighbors to exercise extreme caution to prevent devastating wildfires.

"With the long holiday weekend, and the many outdoor activities expected, people need to be careful with any campfires, and fireworks should not be used," NWS Bay Area warned. "Any wildfire that ignites will have the potential for rapid spread. Lightning is the only natural ignition for wildfires, and there are no thunderstorms in the forecast."

To make matters even worse, PG&E is warning some 12,000 customers that they could have their power intentionally shut off on Tuesday for safety reasons.

Eight counties received warnings including Solano and Napa counties. Most impacted customers live in Shasta and Tehama counties. PG&E will operate six community centers in the impacted counties where customers can pick up ice.