The winds seem to have switched and are now coming out of the east. For the moment, the fire is burning away from Babbitt Peak and making a small run on the southern flank. Current camera view from Babbitt Peak attached.
I would say the fire behavior change was less about on and offshore flow and more about alignment.
The weather pattern the fire started under was a RFW while the winds were west and south, they were dry in nature, but yes the pattern did change into an offshore pattern.
I drove by the fire yesterday afternoon while it was putting up a large column and then again last night as it had slowed down.
I suspect several things were involved.
The fire appeared to align with a drainage and make a run with the wind as opposed to flanking up a slope as it did the day before.
The dry air mass that moved over the fire allowed for warmer air to remain over the fire during the overnight hours. This when combined with the atmosphere being stirred up by the previous days winds and the transition to the offshore winds allowed dry air to mix down to the surface.
There is a time lag on fuels reacting to dry/moist air, so this may have been in play as well.
There may have been some firing going as well which will put up a good column.
The fire did put up a good column yesterday and briefly “capped out”. While it looks like it added 1500 acres or so… it is not a huge run. The cap on the column was more about the atmosphere and mixing height rather than a large fire run. All that energy and moisture has to go somewhere.
My guess… a combination of all of the above…
“Fire near Tahoe” yeah well it is in the same state at least.
per CAL FIRE, 09/05/24…3327 AC
Is there an IAP available? I take it if calfire is reporting on this incident it is unified command?
yes, CAL FIRE NEU in unified command with the USFS
NIFC FTP site with IAP, ETC