Williams Fire: Slight Chance of Thunderstorms in Region

The National Weather Service is forecasting a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms over the region this afternoon, which may provide relief to firefighters battling the above Glendora.

The showers may provide some precipitation in the Southland today, tonight and tomorrow, which may also boost efforts of firefighters hampered by the dry summer heat and steep, arid terrain, according to City News Service. But the weather service did not rule out dry lightning and gusty winds caused by the extra tropical moisture, which would make the fire worse.

U.S. Forest Service Deputy Incident Commander Mark Nunez did not seem worried about the possible weather changes yesterday during a press conference at the Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale where firefighters set up a command post.

He said fire officials are working with a meteorologist with the National Weather Service and don’t see an immediate weather threat.

“The weather pattern is supposed to stay stable for the next week,” said Nunez.  “The forecaster we have assigned says he doesn’t see changes in the near future.”

While Nunez said officials don’t foresee showers directly falling on the blaze, he said the tropical precipitation could lower temperatures and increase humidity to aid in firefighters’ efforts.

According to the weather service, today’s high in Glendora is expected to reach 96 degrees, with tonight’s low at 67 degrees. Temperatures are expected to remain in the 90s for the remainder of the week.

The Williams Fire has scorched 3,800 acres of dry bush in Angeles National Forest above Glendora since Sunday afternoon.

Fire officials said the fire was about as of Tuesday afternoon. They pinned hopes on full containment of the wildfire by Sept. 13.

- City News Service contributed to this report.