A fire weather watch has been issued for the Stanislaus National Forest and surrounding Mother Lode region today through this Saturday.
A high pressure system is building inland and the system will produce increasing winds. This combined with warming temperatures will significantly lower humidity and create potential “red flag” fire danger conditions.
Humidity is expected to drop by 15-to-20 percent. North winds will increase by this afternoon with local gusts to 35 miles-per-hour.
Combining this with tinder-dry conditions in the forest region already, gives reason for area fire officials to urge Mother Lode residents and visitors to be extremely fire safe these next few days.
Meanwhile, forest officials are looking for different ways to cut fire danger.
A rainmaker is being hired to reduce the drought conditions that have left the San Bernardino National Forest vulnerable to more wildfires. The city will hire a company that uses airplanes and ridge-top generators to seed clouds with rain-inducing silver iodide.
This post was last modified on 01/31/2009 4:43 pm