Northern Washoe County will be under a Red Flag Warning Tuesday as gusty winds and low humidity create critical fire weather conditions across parts of northwest Nevada and northeast California.
The National Weather Service in Reno upgraded an earlier Fire Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning, which will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday.
The warning includes northern Washoe County, including the S-1 Vya Fire, along with Surprise Valley and eastern Lassen County in California.
Southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph are expected, with gusts reaching 30 to 40 mph. Gusts could reach 50 mph along ridgetops. Winds are expected to shift to the west during the late afternoon and evening.
Afternoon relative humidity is expected to fall to between 12% and 17%, with critical conditions expected to last three to six hours.
Much of northwest Nevada and northeast California received little to no rain Friday, leaving dry vegetation that could carry fire.
The National Weather Service said the combination of gusty winds and low humidity could cause fires to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first responders can contain them.
Humidity is expected to recover to between 50% and 80% by Wednesday morning.
People are urged to avoid outdoor activities that could create sparks near dry vegetation, including yard work, target shooting and campfires. The National Weather Service also advises people to follow local fire restrictions.
