[pct-l] Fire Danger In Sierra

[taterno at cox.net]

Hikers, 
The following Red Flag Warning is from the NWS in Hanford.  Dry lightening may again occur over the Sierra.  Use caution and know evacuation routes in the event a fire develops on or near the trail.

Tom KI6ASP



Red Flag Warning

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
435 AM PDT FRI JUN 27 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR DRY LIGHTNING IN EFFECT FOR THE SIERRA
NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE PARK SOUTH TO THE FRESNO/TULARE COUNTY LINE
FROM 11 AM PDT TODAY THROUGH 8 PM PDT SATURDAY EVENING..

.A SOUTHEAST FLOW ALOFT AND AN UNSTABLE AIRMASS IN PLACE WILL
CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT OVER THE
SIERRA NEVADA BOTH THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND AGAIN SATURDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE LOWER LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE ARE DRY
AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT DO DEVELOP WILL LIKELY NOT PRODUCE WETTING
RAINS. THE VERY DRY FUELS COMBINED WITH ANY LIGHTNING STRIKES WILL
BRING A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF FIRE STARTS TO AREAS MAINLY FROM NORTH
OF KINGS CANYON PARK TO YOSEMITE PARK. THIS INCLUDES THE SIERRA
NATIONAL FOREST.

CAZ296-271945-
/O.UPG.KHNX.FW.A.0001.080627T1800Z-080629T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KHNX.FW.W.0001.080627T1800Z-080629T0300Z/
SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK-
435 AM PDT FRI JUN 27 2008

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM PDT
SATURDAY FOR DRY LIGHTNING IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FROM
YOSEMITE TO THE FRESNO/TULARE COUNTY LINE..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HANFORD HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO THE
FRESNO/TULARE COUNTY LINE...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS
MORNING TO 8 PM PDT SATURDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR THE
SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BOTH
THIS AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY AFTERNOONS OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS
OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA AS A SOUTHEAST FLOW PATTERN ALOFT
INCREASES. A RATHER DRY LOWER ATMOSPHERE WILL REDUCE THE THREAT OF
WETTING RAINS...WHILE INCREASING THE THREAT OF DRY LIGHTNING. DRY
FUELS WILL CREATE IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR FIRE STARTS WITH ANY
LIGHTNING STRIKE. THE FLOW ALOFT WILL TURN TO THE SOUTHWEST ON
SUNDAY WHICH WILL KEEP ANY ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT
CONFINED TO THE SIERRA NEVADA CREST WITH STORMS MOVING EAST OF THE
AREA.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES
WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. PLEASE ADVISE THE
APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED
FLAG WARNING.