The sun was an orange spot from Woodfords this morning thanks to smoke from the Tamarack Fire. A red flag warning has been issued for the entire Sierra starting midnight on Sunday.
A red flag warning for critical fire danger takes effect midnight Sunday through 8 p.m. Monday for abundant lightning on dry fuels.
Forecasters are predicting isolated to scattered thunderstorms that will be wet and dry, with 40 mph wind gusts possible.
“Recent hot and dry conditions have created very receptive vegetation to new lightning fires,” forecasters said 11:55 a.m. Saturday. “New fire starts may combine with outflow winds to cause a fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first responders can contain them.”
Firefighters along the Sierra Front are occupied with the 6,600-acre Tamarack Fire that is burning around Markleeville.
That fire was started by a lightning strike and first reported on July 4.
After smoldering for almost two weeks, it erupted into flame on Friday afternoon, sending up a smoke plume visible for miles around.
A surge of monsoon moisture from the south will cause thunderstorms to develop.
Smoky conditions are expected to continue in Carson Valley through the day, with winds out of the west 10-15 mph this afternoon, gusting to up to 30 mph.
