Rain could bring relief this week to fire-ravaged communities

A cool system drawing moisture from remnants of former Hurricane Linda will bring rain Tuesday and some relief to firefighters battling destructive fires throughout California.

After more than a week of triple-digit temperatures and low humidity, a band of light showers blanketed portions of California on Monday, extending from Sacramento to Ventura. The light rain is part of a larger system moving through the state.

By Tuesday, the low-pressure system is expected to bring below-normal temperatures and rain to the coasts and mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, said meteorologist Joe Sirard of the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Temperatures are expected to dip into the 70s for the coast and 80s for the valleys.

The rain will be short-lived: It will move out of the area by Wednesday morning and head north. Hot and dry conditions will return Thursday and linger until next Monday.

In Northern California, weather conditions were expected to improve this week due a cooler system from British Columbia. The system will bring needed moisture over the Valley and Butte fires, said meteorologist Eric Kurth of the National Weather Service in Sacramento.

Temperatures will drop into the 60s by Wednesday and humidity will increase, he said.

“That makes certain fuel less susceptible to burn,� Kurth said. “That should help the fires a little bit.�

But heavier shower could produce erratic winds, which may present a problem for firefighters.

Firefighters faced similar wind conditions last week when a delta breeze caused flames from the Valley and Butte fires to grow rapidly, he said.

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