By: weather.com and Associated Press
Published: September 3,2013
(MORE: Yosemite Forecast | Yosemite Fire Among California's Largest in History)
The fire was 70 percent contained at nightfall, up from 45 percent some 24 hours earlier, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The blaze now covers 368 square miles, about 20 more than Sunday night.
Unfortunately, the cool, humid air experienced on Labor Day is not expected to continue.
"There is a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm on Tuesday from the increased moisture, however a drying trend is expected as the week continues," said weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce.
Fire weather was still classified as extreme with temperatures above 90 degrees and winds in some spots gusting at 20 mph, but Monday was cooler than many recent days, with more moisture and cloud cover.
Full containment is not expected until Sept. 20.
Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for some south of Highway 120, and Tioga Road west of Yosemite Creek Picnic Area is closed.
Crews will continue building fire lines and burning away the fire's potential fuel sources on Monday.
The blaze started Aug. 17 in the Stanislaus National Forest, and two-thirds of the land burned since then is located there as well. The cause is being investigated.
The fire - the fourth largest in California history - has claimed 111 structures, 11 of them homes. About 4,500 structures are threatened.
MORE: Western Wildfire Photos
Lolo, Mont.
A line of evacuees, forced from the Lolo Creek
drainage near Lolo, Mont., by the Lolo Creek Complex of fires, passes
through a road block Tuesday evening, August 20, 2013, at the
intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and U.S. Highway 93 South. (AP
Photo/Missoulian/Kurt Wilson)
No comments:
Post a Comment