The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch and updated red flag warnings for large parts of Southern California as strong northeast to east winds develop. The alerts cover multiple Los Angeles and Ventura County zones and portions of interior coastal ranges.
The NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard office said warnings are in effect beginning Thursday morning and may extend into the weekend. Affected areas include Santa Clarita Valley, Malibu, Calabasas and Agoura Hills, the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, and wide portions of Ventura County coastal and valley communities. Interior Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties face elevated risk on Friday.
Forecasters expect northeast to east winds of 20 to 30 mph with common gusts from roughly 40 to 55 mph and isolated gusts up to 65 mph, the NWS reported. Relative humidity is forecast to fall into single digits and the low teens in many areas, increasing the risk that any ignition could spread rapidly.
As the NWS warned, "If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior which would threaten life and property." The agency also described the event severity as severe for some mountain zones and classified the threat as possible to likely in coming days.
Impacts And Safety Measures
Moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds are expected to peak from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon before gradually weakening. The NWS said drier air will erase much of the moisture benefit from recent rains, leaving fuels more flammable.
Emergency messages will be sent to enabled mobile phones for considerable or catastrophic hazards, officials said. Residents are urged to sign up for county alert systems and follow local agencies on social media for updates. Counties named for alerts include Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino.
The NWS provided specific precautions for residents. Secure burn barrels with a weighted metal cover and holes no larger than three quarters of an inch. Never discard lit cigarettes or matches outdoors. Douse all outdoor fires thoroughly and stir embers until fully cooled. Submerge charcoal after use and never leave any fire unattended.
People living near wildland interfaces were told to prepare now and review guidance at readyforwildfire.org and wildfirerisk.org. Officials cautioned that watches may be upgraded to additional red flag warnings as forecasts evolve.
