What forecasters say is the longest run of red flag warnings they can recall in the Southland went into its 11th day Thursday, with at least one more day of strong gusty winds and low humidity expected.
Red flag warnings signifying a high risk of wildfires are in effect and scheduled to expire at 10 a.m. Friday in Los Angeles County in the San Gabriel Mountains, the Angeles National Forest, the Santa Monica Mountains, the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys, beach cities, metropolitan Los Angeles, Downtown L.A., and the Hollywood Hills.
Winds of between 15 and 35 miles per hour are forecast in the areas under warning, along with gusts of up to 50 mph amid humidity levels as low as between 3 and 10 percent, according to a National Weather Service statement.
Fire warnings are also in effect in numerous areas of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and the Santa Barbara mountains could experience near- critical conditions Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening, the statement said.
“In addition, the air mass will be fairly unstable above the Thomas Fire today, resulting in la greater risk for large fire plumes,” it said. The Thomas Fire has roared through Ventura County and parts of Santa Barbara County since it broke out last week.
Sunny weather was forecast in L.A. County Thursday, along with highs of 68 degrees on Mount Wilson; 69 in Palmdale; 70 in Lancaster; 73 in Saugus; 76 in Avalon; 79 in Pasadena; 80 in San Gabriel and Burbank; 80 at LAX; 81 in Downtown L.A; and 82 in Long Beach.
Sunny skies were also forecast in Orange County, along with highs of 67 in San Clemente; 72 in Laguna Beach; 73 in Newport Beach; 79 in Mission Viejo and Yorba Linda; and 80 in Anaheim, Irvine and Fullerton.
Temperatures again will decline slightly Friday.
—City News Service