Winds Raise Extreme Fire Risk in Southern California, But Bay Area Is Spared by Rain

Much of the Bay Area will be hit by strong winds this week.

While the swift gusts could cause power outages and damage trees, fire risk isn’t on the radar of local first responders. As Southern California prepares for dangerous fire conditions, Northern California will almost certainly be spared any late-season blazes, thanks to rainy months at the end of 2024.

“Because of a series of rainfall events just back to back, and then we had our atmospheric over a while ago … even though we are going into a drier weather pattern, the fuels aren’t of concern right now,” said Crystal Oudit, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office.

While this week’s winds pose a significant fire risk in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties, “there is virtually zero risk of a dangerous wildfire in Northern California,” UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said during his YouTube livestream Monday.

“It’s just too damp,” he continued. “In fact, Northern California will benefit from a period of finally sunny and drier conditions after a very wet spell.”

That’s thanks to the “precipitation dipole,” which has affected the state since the fall. Northern California has had multiple rainy weeks, while in Southern California, “conditions have been bone dry,” Swain said.

The impacts of the winds there will likely affect people as much as a big rainstorm, Swain said.

“Certain roads will be closed to public access to prevent potential fire ignitions. Hundreds of thousands, if not perhaps over a million people, could end up seeing power outages through a combination of preemptive safety shut-offs to reduce risk or actual unintended power outages,” Swain said. “There will be a lot of downed trees. Hopefully, not too many downed power lines, but that’s a real risk.

“All in all, a pretty challenging situation for Southern California.”

In the Bay Area, 20- to 30-mph winds blowing north to northeast will likely bring a welcome temperature hike and could clear up some of the dense fog many people woke up to Monday morning.

Still, the NWS is urging people in the Bay Area to prepare. A wind advisory has been issued for Tuesday and early Wednesday for the higher-elevation areas of the North, East, and South Bays, as well as the San Francisco Peninsula, where gusts could reach 50 mph and cause power outages or traffic disruptions.

Oudit recommends that people secure outdoor objects, such as umbrellas and outdoor furniture; charge electronic devices; and check social media and the National Weather Service website for updates.