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For the second time in three weeks, a “diablo wind” — notorious
in autumn for its hot, dry gusts — was expected to whip up
starting in the evening across Northern California.
Forecasters have issued red flag warnings for fire danger until
Thursday from the central coast through the San Francisco Bay
Area and into counties to the north.
Sustained winds of 25 mph (40 kph) are expected in many areas,
with possible gusts topping 55 mph (88.5 kph) along
mountaintops, according to the National Weather Service.
During a diablo wind, common in the fall, the air is so dry that
relative humidity levels plunge, drying out vegetation and
making it ready to burn. The name — “diablo” is Spanish for
“devil” — is informally applied to a hot wind that blows near
the San Francisco region from the interior toward the coast as
high pressure builds over the West.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said it was prepared to turn off
power to a small number of customers starting late Tuesday in
areas where strong gusts could damage electrical equipment and
spark blazes.
Targeted power shutoffs were also possible in Southern
California, where another notorious weather phenomenon, the
Santa Ana winds, were expected to intensify Wednesday and
Thursday.
Winds around greater Los Angeles will likely be more powerful
than up north, with gusts reaching 80 mph (129 kph), and even
higher in mountain locations, the National Weather Service said.
A high wind warning was issued starting early Wednesday for much
of LA and
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