Thunderstorms forecast: Little rain for Bay Area but lightning raises wildfire risk

Remoted thunderstorms are anticipated as early as Sunday afternoon alongside the California shoreline, together with elements of the Bay Space, however they gained’t present a lot reduction from ongoing drought situations and an more and more lively early wildfire season.

Meteorologists predict a climate system that’s dousing southwestern states with monsoon storms will make its manner up the Central Coast to the northern Bay Space by Monday night.

However thunderstorms within the Bay Space and elsewhere alongside the coast most definitely gained’t quantity to way more than rumbling skies and heavy cloud cowl, and never widespread heavy rainfall, in response to the Nationwide Climate Service.

However, the thunderstorms do deliver an opportunity of lightning to most affected areas, posing some risk of lightning-sparked wildfires within the drier inland areas.

“In a lot of these conditions, the dangers could be better than the advantages,” mentioned Jeff Lorber, a Nationwide Climate Service meteorologist, in an interview.

Why wouldn’t a thunderstorm — emphasis on “storm” — produce a lot rain? Lorber says it’s due to California’s summer season local weather, specifically the nice and cozy, dry pockets of air beneath the ambiance that evaporate most moisture earlier than it might probably fall to the earth.

Summer time storms earlier this week led to flooding in southwestern states similar to Arizona and New Mexico, and even Las Vegas. However after they arrive in California, the thunderstorms are anticipated to create heavy rainfall for very temporary durations and light-weight drizzling the remainder of the time.

It's unwelcome information for Californians who're more and more frightened about persistent drought situations. Earlier this week, the Home of Representatives authorized a wide-ranging laws package deal geared toward aiding elements of the state which might be particularly affected by drought situations and extreme wildfires.

A few of California’s traditionally largest wildfires have been sparked by lightning strikes, together with the August Complicated in 2020 that burned greater than 1 million acres throughout a number of Northern California counties.

Lightning danger throughout this weekend’s thunderstorms is “restricted” and never “elevated” or “important,” in response to the Nationwide Climate Service’s measurement scale. However that also doesn’t rule out the potential for wildfire.

“Even when it’s raining, the lightning may strike outdoors of the primary rain areas and trigger some danger,” Lorber mentioned, “particularly with such dry situations within the inside elements of the Bay Space.”

On the brilliant aspect, the thunderstorms aren’t anticipated to create robust winds moreover some scattered heavy gusts, Lorber mentioned. Wind speeds are projected to be round regular, and the climate service has not issued an advisory within the Bay Space.

Official steering advises residents to remain indoors after they hear thunder outdoors, in case there’s lightning accompanying it.

“The coastal fog within the Bay Space all the time helps,” he mentioned. “We welcome any rainfall, after all, however we don’t welcome any danger of igniting a wildfire.”

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