After a brief reprieve from dangerous fire weather conditions across the Southern California Coast, critical fire weather conditions will ramp up again as strong Santa Ana winds strengthen once again. While winds won’t be nearly as strong as the past few days, terrain induced winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 40 to 60 mph will still be strong enough to be of concern. Combined with low relative humidity and dry fuels, the potential exists for ongoing fires to worsen and new ignitions to rapidly spread. Dangerous conditions are expected to continue tonight before waning Friday morning.
According to the National Weather Service, there could be more fire weather trouble early next week. By Monday into Tuesday, an area of low pressure is expected to part from mean flow and become closed off. As this system heads over Southern California, a strong surface high will set up over the Great Basin.
“There is still uncertainty on where this low sets up exactly and how strong the high becomes, but another uptick in Santa Ana winds is looking likely by Monday or Tuesday,” cautions the Los Angeles office of the National Weather Service. They add that the exact paths of areas of low pressure and high pressure will dictate how strong winds become.
For now, Red Flag Warnings continue for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties through 6pm Friday. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly.
Satellite photography shows the smoke rising from the fires in southern California. https://t.co/IyQsnVwiHz
— the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) January 10, 2025
“Use extreme caution with anything that can spark a wildfire,” the National Weather Service says, adding, “Residents near wildland interfaces should be prepared to evacuate if a wildfire breaks out.”
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels. Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain.
