High Temperatures, Santa Ana Winds and Low Humidity Create Fire Danger

The NWS-issued fire weather watch is a status less severe than a red flag warning, but residents should still take precautionary actions.

A fire weather watch has been issued in parts of Southern California as Santa Ana winds, high temperatures and low humidity could create “critical fire weather conditions” later this week.

The fire weather watch has been issued for the Los Angeles and Ventura county valleys and mountains, including the Santa Monica range, from Wednesday night through Friday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Gusty northeast winds are expected to develop late Wednesday, according to the NWS, with gusts of up to 40 mph in the mountains and 30 mph across the valleys expected Thursday morning. The gusts are expected to die down Thursday and pick strengthen again Thursday night into Friday morning. The Santa Ana winds are expected to be around through Sunday.

“These will be light to moderate winds but still enough wind to create those concerns with the low humidity and those temperatures getting into the triple digits,” NBC4 meteorologist Crystal Egger said.
As temperatures rise, humidity is expected to drop and could fall below 10 percent by Thursday. 

Temperatures will be in the 80 and could be in the lower 90s by Thursday, and into the mid-80s and mid-90s on Friday, according to the NWS. Temperatures in the valleys on Saturday are expected to reach triple digits.

The NWS-issued fire weather watch is a status less severe than a red flag warning, but residents should still take precautionary actions.

"With extremely dry fuels in place, if fire ignition occurs, there could be rapid spread of wildfire that would lead to a threat to life and property, according to the NWS.

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