Red Flag Warning for North Bay Hills. Gusty Winds Sunday Night into Monday.

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Regional fire officials are warning the public to be extra careful over the next two days as high winds will combine with dry fuels to create a dangerous mix through Monday.

The first Red Flag Warning of the season for the North Bay has been issued, forecasting strong winds up 15-25 miles per hour, with gusts from 30-50 miles per hour beginning late Sunday, and continuing into early Monday. A northernly flow will bring dry conditions Monday as well.

A dry trough of low pressure has passed to our north, shifting winds to a northerly, offshore direction. You can see that in the satellite picture as fog along the coast is scoured out from the north.

Because of recent hot weather, the finer fuels are tinder dry across inland areas, and larger fuels are rapidly drying as well. The gusty winds are expected to ease off during the day Monday, and a renewed push of cooler, more moist marine air will return by late Tuesday and Wednesday.

As you can see…the northerly air will be fairly cool, with highs Sunday, even in inland areas, mostly in the 80s.

So, the extreme fire danger will be short-lived, lasting from Sunday night into part of Monday, but any fires that begin may exhibit extreme fire growth during that period.