Yosemite fire: Winds will be biggest challenge for firefighters

Winds will be the biggest challenge in the coming days for firefighters battling the rapidly growing Rim fire burning in and around Yosemite National Park.

The blaze, the largest wild fire burning in California, has scorched more than 133,000 acres over the past eight days and is 7% contained.

Ridge winds are expected to increase this afternoon and tonight, which could hamper containment efforts, said KevinDurfee, a National Weather Service meteorologist inHanford.

“It really looks like the weather is not going to be terribly cooperative in the next three days,” he said.

Winds could gust up to 30 mph in the area around the fire, and will remain strong Sunday and Monday, said Drew Peterson, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Sacramento.

Temperatures are expected to remain steady at normal to below normal, which means no excessive heat to dry out fuels, he said. Humidity will be about 20% to 25%, he said.

“It could be drier, much drier than it is. The main thing they’re going against is the winds,” Peterson said. “If they can make it until Tuesday, it looks like conditions will be better.”

Winds are expected to continue blowing from the south and southwest, so smoke should not be a problem where the bulk of Yosemite tourists are, Durfee said.

PHOTOS: Rim fire at Yosemite

Via: Los Angeles Times

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