Weather service issues red flag wildfire warning

Strong offshore winds, warm temperatures, and low humidity levels forecast for the region prompted the National Weather Service to issue a red flag wildfire warning Wednesday.

The dry, blustery spell is expected to produce favorable fire conditions in the valleys and mountains Thursday through early Saturday, according to the NWS.

Easterly winds up to 30 mph and gusts reaching 55 mph also may make driving dangerous in some locales, especially for motorists in high profile vehicles, according to the federal agency.

The conditions — caused by a high-pressure zone over the Great Basin — will include daytime relative humidities as low as 5 percent at times, meteorologists said.