Red Flag Warning Issued for Critical Fire Weather in Santa Rosa and Bay Area

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Red Flag Warning for most of the Bay Area, including all of Santa Rosa. The warning will be in effect from Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 11 a.m. through Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 a.m., due to strong offshore winds and critically dry conditions. Despite recent rain, the NWS anticipates a widespread and prolonged offshore wind event that will quickly dry out fuels such as vegetation and seasonal grasses.

North winds are expected at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph, while relative humidity may drop as low as 14%. The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can cause fires to rapidly grow in size and intensity. As a precaution, permits for outdoor pile burning are not being issued in the City of Santa Rosa at this time.

The Santa Rosa Fire Department will have additional staffing in place for the Red Flag Warning and urges residents to be Wildfire Ready. Have a plan if a fire starts near you and pay attention to the conditions locally. Residents should be mindful of the fire risks; follow these tips to stay safe:

• Avoid outdoor activities that could spark a wildfire.
• Double check trailer chains before driving to make sure they're not dragging.
• Mow fields in the mornings before 10 a.m., but never when it is windy or excessively dry. Lawnmowers are designed to mow lawns, not weeds or dry grass. Metal blades striking rocks can create sparks and start fires.

Visit SRCity.org/Weather to monitor local weather conditions across Santa Rosa.

Visit SRCity.org/WildfireReady and SRCity.org/ReadySR for more information on being Wildfire Ready and to prepare for emergencies.

Visit SRCity.org/WeatherWarning for more information about how to prepare and what to expect from severe weather alerts.