Strong Winds Keep Fire Crews on Red Flag Alert
Monday, Jan 26, 2009 | Updated 1:25 PM PST
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Powerful winds whipped across the Southland amid dry conditions on Friday, prompting forecasters to warn of a high risk of wildfire.
A National Weather Service red flag warning, which means conditions are conducive to wildfire, was scheduled to be in force until 6 p.m. in mountain, forest and valley areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
In Los Angeles County, the warning was in effect in the Angeles National Forest, the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys, and the county's mountains, including the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area.
A wind advisory, indicating an expectation of winds of 35 mph or greater, was scheduled to be in effect in the same areas until 3 p.m.
Wind gusts on Friday morning were clocked at as high as 46 mph in some mountain areas of Los Angeles county, 37 mph in Malibu and 27 mph in the Newhall Pass, according to the NWS.
The humidity level on Friday was expected to be around 15 percent.
