The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an extreme fire risk warning due to a Santa Ana wind event that could cause significant damage in southern California. This alert will be active from Monday at 12:00 p.m. until Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in the counties of Los Angeles and Ventura.
What to Expect from the Santa Ana Winds?
The Santa Ana winds will begin to increase rapidly on Monday afternoon in the Los Angeles Mountains, extending to the valleys and coastal areas by night. Wind gusts are expected to reach between 96-128 km/h in the Los Angeles Mountains and eastern Ventura from Monday night through Tuesday morning. In the valleys and coastal areas, gusts could range from 88-104 km/h.
This wind will be accompanied by extremely low humidity, in some cases in the single digits, prompting the red flag warning to be issued for much of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
What Does the Red Flag Warning Mean?
The red flag warning means that new fires or those already active will have a high risk of spreading rapidly, with extreme behavior and projecting embers over long distances, increasing the danger of additional fires starting.
Preventive Measures and Deployed Resources
In response to the risk of severe fires, Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered the deployment of 170 fire trucks, tankers, personnel, and aircraft to southern California. Cal Fire has also activated more than 790 firefighters and deployed 76 trucks across areas like Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, and Kern.
In Pasadena, parking restrictions have been implemented. Starting Monday at 8:00 a.m., parking will be prohibited on narrow or winding streets within fire-prone areas. Vehicles in violation will be towed.
Road Closures and Additional Warnings
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) reported that SR-27 (Topanga Canyon Boulevard) will be closed from Mulholland Drive to Grand View Drive starting Monday at 10:00 a.m. until red flag conditions subside.
Additionally, the NWS has issued a strong wind advisory for the counties of Los Angeles and Ventura, effective from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning. Starting Tuesday night through Thursday, winds will remain intense, with gusts of 64-88 km/h.
Most Affected Areas
The areas at highest risk include:
- Los Angeles County: Calabasas, Agoura Hills, I-5 corridor, west San Fernando Valley.
- Ventura County: County mountains, valleys, and west Santa Monica Mountains.
The NWS warned that these winds could cause tree falls, power outages, and hazardous conditions at sea.
What’s Next?
Starting on Friday, a low-pressure system is expected to bring light rain and snow to the mountains, which could provide some relief from the conditions.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings