VIDEO/PHOTOS: The National Weather Service (NWS) in Eureka will implement new fire weather zones across Northwest California beginning March 3. Officials say the change will improve wildfire warnings, forecasting accuracy and public safety in Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino and Lake counties.
Fire weather zones are the geographic areas used by the NWS to issue Red Flag Warnings and produce fire weather forecasts that firefighters and emergency managers rely on during wildfire season. Those forecasts are broadcast over radio and used to position crews and equipment ahead of dangerous conditions.
Currently, the Northstate is divided into 10 large fire weather zones. Meteorologist James White said those zones have been in place for years and no longer reflect the region’s complex terrain and weather patterns. “The zones we’ve been using are really old. They haven’t been updated in over a decade,” White said.
