Fire weather watch starts Sunday

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Dry, windy conditions have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a fire weather watch starting Sunday afternoon and lasting through Monday evening for all of Western Nevada and California east of Highway 395.

Southwest winds 15-25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph are forecast Sunday afternoon and evening and through Monday.

Humidity is expected to drop below 15 percent during the day and remain low on Sunday night.

The dry weather will be a big change from Friday's sultry weather, when thunderstorms and sudden downpours hit Western Nevada.

Heavy rain was reported in Markleeville where 1.19 inches fell in 35 minutes at about 1:30 p.m. Friday.

A Topaz Lake weather spotter reported .44 inches of rain falling there in 42 minutes. A Lyon County deputy reported water running over Desert Creek Road southwest of Wellington thanks to heavy rain in the Sweetwater Mountains.

Lightning set up to 10 small single-tree fires around Markleeville and Bridgeport, according to the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch.

All the fires were in remote country and were being handled by firefighters at the scene, dispatchers said at 5:30 p.m. Friday.