Winds Kill One, Spark Fire Danger in NorCal

Santa Rosa police and firefighters responded to more than 15 wind-related incidents beginning around 3 p.m. Sunday as strong winds swept Northern California, leaving one man dead and a 23-year-old woman seriously injured, according to local authorities and regional news reports. The man was struck by a fallen branch in the 800 block of Howard Street and later died at a hospital, while the woman was hit by a branch on Steele Lane near Steele Lane Elementary School and was hospitalized with major injuries. Santa Rosa officials had not publicly released the man’s name as of Monday, and the Sonoma County coroner was expected to determine the official cause of death. Across the wider region, forecasters and utilities warned that the same wind event, paired with low humidity and above-normal temperatures, had sharply increased wildfire risk. ### Where did the fatal incidents happen? Santa Rosa police said the fatal incident happened on the 800 block of Howard Street, between Orchard and Beaver streets, during the Sunday wind event. CBS San Francisco reported that the man suffered major injuries after a branch fell from a tree and that he later died at a local hospital. (cbsnews.com) The 23-year-old woman was injured in a separate incident on the 300 block of Steele Lane, near Steele Lane Elementary School, according to police as cited by CBS San Francisco. She was also taken to a hospital with major injuries. ### How strong were the winds? The National Weather Service’s San Francisco Bay Area forecast discussion said the strongest gust observed during the event was 86 mph at Mount Umunhum around midnight Monday. (cbsnews.com) The same discussion said lower elevations were seeing gusts around 25 to 30 mph on Monday, while higher elevations were peaking between 35 and 45 mph as conditions gradually eased. Weather stations in Santa Rosa recorded gusts exceeding 40 mph, CBS San Francisco reported. The Sacramento forecast office said peak sustained winds in parts of the Valley and Delta were expected around 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 40 to 50 mph, especially along and west of Interstate 5. ### Why did officials warn about fire danger? (forecast.weather.gov) The National Weather Service in Sacramento said a Red Flag Warning was in effect for the Valley and Delta below 1,000 feet through 8 p.m. Monday because of gusty north winds and low humidity. The office said relative humidity in the Valley was expected to fall into the single digits to teens starting Sunday, with daytime humidity remaining very low into the week. (cbsnews.com) CAL FIRE said Northern California was entering a warming and drying trend through early summer, with fuel receptiveness increasing as seasonal curing progressed. The agency said significant fire potential was expected to rise to above normal from May through July. ABC7 reported that crews worked over the weekend to contain a 3-acre fire in Napa County and an 80-acre fire along Altamont Pass as dry, windy conditions persisted. (preview-forecast.weather.gov) ### How widespread were the disruptions? Pacific Gas & Electric Co. implemented Public Safety Power Shutoffs affecting 4,700 customers in 15 counties in its service area, CBS San Francisco reported. (fire.ca.gov) As of 5 a.m. Monday, more than 13,000 PG&E customers were without power, including nearly 6,700 in the North Bay. ABC7 said Bay Area outages and damage extended beyond Santa Rosa, with downed trees and hazardous conditions reported elsewhere in the region. (abc7news.com) Witnesses in Napa County described a large tree falling onto a fence and outdoor tables during the wind event. ### What were forecasters saying next? The Sacramento forecast office said winds were expected to weaken after Monday, but single-digit daytime humidity and a warming trend would keep fire weather concerns elevated through much of the week. (cbsnews.com) The office said valley highs were forecast in the low to mid-90s on Wednesday, with temperatures approaching 100 degrees by Thursday and widespread Moderate HeatRisk expected. (abc7news.com) Weather.gov pages for the Sacramento office and California fire weather alerts remained active on Wednesday, and CAL FIRE’s incidents page continued to list active fires and red-flag-related hazards across the state. (weather.gov) (preview-forecast.weather.gov)