High winds and low humidity have fueled disastrous wildfires throughout California this year, and those conditions are set to return this weekend.
On Dec. 14, the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory and "fire weather watch" warning for much of the Central Coast, due to a forecast of gusty winds and low humidity from 10pm, Dec. 15, to 10am, Dec. 17.
Among the places specifically called out in that warning locally are the Los Padres National Forest in Big Sur and Pinnacles National Park and the surrounding Coast Range.
Winds are estimated to reach between 45-55 miles-per-hour, and "outdoor burning is NOT recommended."
The forecast conditions mirror those that led to the Napa wildfires this fall, and the recent fires in Southern California, one of which, the Thomas Fire, is burning in the southern reaches of the Los Padres National Forest.
As of the morning of Dec. 14, the Thomas Fire has burned about 242,500-acres, making it the state's fourth-largest wildfire on record and is only 30-percent contained.
Officials worry the weekend winds will give the fire another push, and firefighters are scrambling to put in containment lines to protect the Santa Barbara area.
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