Santa Ana Winds Expected to Increase Fire Risk in Southern California Again
LOS ANGELES—A new wave of gusty Santa Ana winds will heighten fire risks beginning Tuesday in the mountainous regions of Southland.
Forecasters from the National Weather Service indicated that winds may start to pick up as early as Monday night, with expectations for “weak to moderate” Santa Ana winds to persist from Tuesday through Thursday. However, after an initial alert for broader fire conditions, forecasters revised their outlook, stating the winds will be “much more localized” than previously assessed.
The NWS projects peak gusts reaching 30 to 45 mph “over just the favored mountains and hills,” coupled with humidity levels dropping below 10 percent in many of the mountainous regions.
“Red Flag Warnings are in effect now for the windiest and driest zones,” the forecasters reported. “All other areas that were under Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches have been lifted. Nonetheless, elevated fire weather conditions persist. Given the customary New Year’s celebrations, individuals must exercise extreme caution with any potential fire hazards.”
A red flag warning indicating critical wildfire danger will be enforced from noon Tuesday until 6 p.m. Wednesday for the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, the western San Gabriel Mountains, and the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway corridor.
The gusting winds are expected to trigger a warming trend in the area that will likely extend through the week. Meteorologists noted that New Year’s Day will bring “picture postcard weather with clear skies and temperatures in the 70s, an increase of 5 to 10 degrees compared to Tuesday and roughly 8 degrees above the norm.”
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Temperatures are expected to climb slightly again on Thursday, likely the warmest day of the week, with highs in the 70s or even low 80s along the coasts and valleys. On Friday, temperatures will dip slightly but remain above the seasonal average.
