Update: Red Flag Warning Issued For The Central Sierra Nevada

Photo taken by: Phil Nichols

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Central Sierra Nevada from 2 PM this afternoon through 8 PM Tuesday evening, for dry thunderstorms and gusty winds.

With any thunderstorm that develops, the winds may be gusty and erratic. Outflow winds of fifty mph or stronger are possible.

The thunderstorms are expected to produce cloud to ground lightning. There will likely be little or no rainfall. Any lightning caused fires can spread rapidly due to very dry fuel conditions and gusty outflow winds from thunderstorms.

The areas affected under this Warning includes Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, Kings River, the Sequoia National Forest and the Sierra National Forest.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are expected to occur. A combination of locally strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior from lightning caused fires.