News & Columns > News Staff Member > Fire Weather Watch for High Deserts Canceled

Fire Weather Watch for High Deserts Canceled

National Weather Service

By News Staff Member
Sunday, August 31, 2008

Update - Sunday, August 31, 8:20 p.m.

The National Weather Service has canceled the Fire Weather Watch for desert areas adjacent to the San Bernardino County mountains.

Gusty onshore winds are expected this afternoon and evening with gusts to 40 miles per hour at times. However, drying is expected to decrease relative humidity to 15 to 20 percent at times this afternoon. This level is not quite low enough to meet Red Flag Criteria.

Original - Friday, August 29, 2:30 p.m.

Monsoon moisture will continue to move across the area through Saturday night. Wet thunderstorms will begin over the desert slopes and desert valleys this evening and spread northwest across all areas on Saturday.

A strong trough moving inland to the north late Sunday will bring a much drier and more stable air mass through Wednesday. However, this trough is expected to generate sustained winds over 25 miles per hour and gusts over 45 miles per hour across the high desert areas. The relative humidity during this time is expected to below 15 percent.

The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch in effect from Sunday afternoon through late Sunday night for Apple Valley, Lucerne Valley, Yucca Valley, and Morongo Valley.

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. The National Weather Service advises residents to listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.