The National Weather Service on Sunday upgraded its wind advisory to a high wind warning for higher elevations, alerting residents across a vast swath of Central and Northern California to the potential for ferocious, damaging winds starting Monday afternoon.
The warning, which takes effect at 4 p.m. Monday and applies to areas at elevations 1,000 feet or higher, cites the potential for winds reaching 60-70 mph at a variety of locations from Big Sur to the North Bay mountains. Winds were already expected to pick up at all elevations Sunday night, leading the National Weather Service to issue a rare winter fire weather watch for large swaths of Central California.
Dykema said the Santa Cruz mountains mark the northernmost area of concern in terms of fire danger, but he urged resident caution due to expected high winds in the North Bay.
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