Red Flag Warning Issued for Northern California

Medford, Oregon- The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of Northern California, citing a high risk of wildfire starts due to expected dry thunderstorms and gusty outflow winds.

The warning is in effect from Monday afternoon through Monday evening for fire weather zones in Siskiyou County, including areas such as the Western Klamath National Forest, Mount Shasta region, and Central Siskiyou County. No parts of Oregon are currently included in the warning area.

Forecasters say isolated to scattered thunderstorms are likely, particularly in the afternoon and early evening hours. These storms are expected to produce frequent lightning with minimal rainfall—conditions that can quickly ignite new fires.

Outflow winds from thunderstorms could reach 30 to 40 mph, adding to the danger by pushing any fire starts rapidly across dry fuels. The National Weather Service rates lightning efficiency for fire starts as “high to very high” in the warning area.

Precautionary Actions

Residents in the affected zones are urged to:

Avoid spark-causing activities such as outdoor grilling, power tool use, or driving over dry vegetation. Monitor emergency alerts from local fire and law enforcement agencies. Have evacuation plans in place in case of fast-moving wildfires.

The weather service also notes that additional thunderstorm activity may continue into Tuesday, and further watches or warnings could be issued depending on conditions.