Lightning returns Sunday

A lightning storm on Sunday, Aug. 23, is blamed for igniting the wildfires throughout the region. Hoover Tower at Stanford was hit by lightning. Michael Fischer, a computer science Ph.D. student at Stanford, captured the strike from the Stanford driving range at 6:43 a.m. Sunday. Photo courtesy of the Stanford News Service.

The National Weather Service has issued a fire watch for the entire Bay Area and Central Coast, as strong winds, lightning, and thunderstorms forecast Sunday through Tuesday could lead to new fires.

Winds are predicted to reach anywhere between 40 and 65 mph while scattered thunderstorms are predicted for Sunday heading into Monday morning, and then again later Monday and into Tuesday.

During this time, dry lightning could start new fires throughout the regions. Remote areas are especially at risk, as those fires take longer to report, weather service officials said.