Wednesday is the second day of the first significant Santa Ana wind event of the season which is expected to deliver powerful gusts across the Southland, along with above-normal temperatures and heightened fire danger.
A red flag warning of critical fire conditions will be in effect until 6 p.m. Wednesday in the western San Gabriel Mountains, as well as southeastern Ventura County valleys and the Santa Susana Mountains.
Forecasters said those areas could experience wind gusts of up to 40 mph, with humidity falling as low as 5%.
“Despite recent rains, most vegetation/fuel types remain dormant and critically dry,” said the National Weather Service. ”With the gusty Santa Ana winds and very dry air mass, this environment is favorable to rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior with any new fire starts. While this risk exists for most of southwest California, the risk is highest where the winds will be strongest and longest lasting.”
NWS forecasters said winds were gusting Tuesday in some areas at 20 to 40 mph, but they were expected to increase to 35 to 50 mph in particularly wind-prone areas, such as the Santa Clarita Valley.
Temperatures also spiked upward Tuesday, with high temperatures pushing into the mid-80s and mid-90s in select areas, which is roughly 10 to 15 degrees above normal for this time of year, according to the NWS. Downtown Los Angeles reached 97 degrees at 3 p.m.
“Winds Wednesday evening into Wednesday are favored to develop a more northerly component compared to (Tuesday’s) very easterly winds, which will lead to increased winds over the Western Santa Monica Mountains,” according to the NWS. “The winds combined with very dry relative humidities — 5 to 15 percent minimums — have resulted in critical fire weather conditions that are conducive for extreme fire spread should a new fire start.”
A heat advisory will be in effect through 7 p.m. this evening for Los Angeles County beaches, the Malibu Coast, the Palos Verdes Hills, the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational area, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys and the inland coastal area stretching to downtown Los Angeles, as well as the Orange County inland area.
Santa Ana conditions are expected to weaken later in the week, with temperatures falling slightly on Thursday and “noticeably cooler” conditions on Friday, although still slightly above normal in some inland areas.
Due to the fire danger presented by elevated temperatures and strong winds, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement the city’s Office of Public Safety was coordinating with the Emergency Management Department, as well as the fire, police and recreation and parks departments, to ensure they are ready to respond as needed.
The city has hundreds of locations open for heat relief, such as recreation and parks facilities and local library branches. For locations and hours of operations, information is available at laparks.org/reccenter and lapl.org/branches.
Angelenos can also call 3-1-1 from within the city to learn more, as well as sign up to receive adverse weather alerts on their phones at NotifyLA.org.
“Our city departments remain prepared to keep Angelenos safe and to respond to any needs ahead of the expected high temperatures beginning (Tuesday). Especially as we cheer on the Dodgers, I encourage all residents to stay hydrated, check in on your neighbors, and take advantage of the resources available citywide to help keep you cool and safe,” Bass said in a statement.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger had a similar message, noting that emergency response officials were closely tracking the incoming Santa Ana wind and heat event. Beginning Monday night, the county’s Emergency Operations Center was activated to monitor conditions and coordinate resources in real time as well.
“I’ve been briefed by our emergency management officials and I want to reassure the public that we are ready to respond as needed,” Barger said in a statement. “When you live in a wildfire-prone area or not, I encourage all residents to stay vigilant.”
“High winds and warm temperatures can create rapidly changing conditions, so please secure outdoor items, avoid any activities that could spark a fire, and check on neighbors who may be vulnerable and need help. Staying alert and prepared helps keep all of us safe,” Barger added.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday the Governor’s Office of Emergency Service had approved the pre-deployment of 10 fire engines, three water tenders, three helicopters, three hand crews and three dispatchers with 107 support personnel in anticipation of potential wildfires from the gusting winds and low humidity.
“Cal Fire also remains at peak staffing at all units within the impacted region and has full use of both state-owned air assets and exclusive use aircraft to rapidly attack any new fires that may start,” according to a statement from the governor’s office.