Fire Danger: Pinole, Hercules Under Red Flag Warning

PINOLE AND HERCULES, CA — Pinole and Hercules are among Bay Area locations under the region's first red flag warning of the fire season.

The National Weather Service issued the warning, which is expected to remain in place from 11 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Monday. The North and East Bay hills are included in the red flag warning, as are the Diablo Range, the East Bay valleys and the eastern half of Santa Clara County.

Any fire will spread rapidly, especially in grass and brush, the weather service said.

The warning was issued after officials determined that offshore wind would develop this weekend, with fuels at near-record dry levels following a dry winter, the weather service said. The winds are forecast to hit the Napa County hills first, then spread to the East Bay overnight and early Saturday.

Locally, 20- to 30-mph winds are forecast along with 40- to 50-mph gusts, except at elevations above 2,500 feet where gusts may reach 60 mph.

Warm and dry conditions are forecast Saturday and Sunday. The pattern will continue to dry out grasses, the weather service said.

Read the red flag warning here.

Image shows officially where the Red Flag is in effect from 11 pm Friday through 6 am Monday (red color on map). #RedFlagWarninghttps://t.co/N8DS9N2c6Xhttps://t.co/HPZw8oiUgp pic.twitter.com/XyAHtB0BZL
— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) May 7, 2021

Patch local editor Courtney Teague contributed to this report.