Heat, dry lightning keep firefighters busy with new California wildfire starts

Seven wildfires began Monday and Tuesday across Northern California as warm temperatures and dry lightning strikes combined for dangerous conditions early in the year’s fire season.

The dry lightning strikes began Monday and were expected to continue through Tuesday as a high clouds pass through the area. Influenced by monsoonal moisture from the Southwest desert and remnants from Tropical Storm Alberto making its way up from the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters said they expected atmospheric instability throughout the day.