Broadcast by KQED

The Bay Area woke up this morning to dry, warm and windy conditions that felt just like fire season.

Luckily, forecasters say that vegetation is still too moist from winter rains... to require a red flag warning. And the gusty wind — which is strongest at high elevations in the North Bay and the East Bay — will start dying down this afternoon.

National Weather Service meteorologist Rachel Kennedy says today is a good reminder of the approaching fire season:

The thing to note is that we are starting to see those fuels dry out as we move out of the rainy season… We'll start to transition back into our summer and fall fire season.

Kennedy says the rest of this week should be pleasantly warm.

By Friday, temperatures might peak above average in the southern Salinas Valley.