A Red Flag Warning was issued Monday for the North Bay mountains and East Bay hills, officials with the National Weather Service said.
The warning went into effect at 10 p.m. Monday and ends at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Winds were gusty Monday evening in both areas and those winds are expected to continue through Wednesday morning. Humidity overnight and during the day is expected to be low.
Any fires that start will probably spread quickly, weather officials said. Residents are encouraged to follow all burn bans that are in effect.
The risk for wildfires will be the highest in higher terrain.
Oakland fire crews were patrolling the hills Tuesday night and bulldozers and water tankers were strategically positioned just in case a fire breaks out.
"We’re stretched pretty thin and realizing for us fire season is September, October very hot dry months right now looking at 9-10% humidity which is how dry everything is,” said Matt Portteus from Alameda County Fire.
Due to the high risk for wildfires, PG&E officials have decided to cut power to tens of thousands of customers in the North Bay to reduce the chance PG&E equipment will spark a fire.
Parts of Napa County are included in a planned Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) starting late Monday, authorities say.
PG&E said 172,000 customers could be impacted by the PSPS event, including more than 5,000 customers in Calistoga, Saint Helena and unincorporated areas of Napa County.
To find out if your address will be impacted by the shutoffs, click here.
For more information from the Napa County Office of Emergency Services, click here.
