LOS ANGELES – Another moderate to strong wind system in Santa Ana is expected to develop across Southern California during the first half of the week, raising wildfire danger in areas still dealing with a significant firestorm nearly two weeks ago. is increasing.
Many communities from Santa Barbara through Los Angeles County to San Diego are If there is a fire alarm From 10am
Monday morning until at least 10 p.m. Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service office in Oxnard, California.
Sustained winds are expected to reach 30 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph in the lee of the mountains, the NWS said.
In addition, relative humidity values are expected to plummet below 10%, causing rapid plant burnout in the event of a blaze.
“If a fire occurs, conditions favor extreme fire behavior and rapid fire spread, potentially threatening life and property,” meteorologists warned.
The NWS is warning residents in the Los Angeles/Ventura County Santa Ana wind corridor to remain vigilant in the coming days, monitor the forecast, and listen to instructions from emergency officials.
A wet winter followed by a sudden dry spell last spring has led to the region's active fire weather typically seen in the summer and fall.
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, only 36% of the Golden State is officially in drought, but dry conditions are affecting all of Southern California.
Since the beginning of the year, Los Angeles has been short of nearly 2 inches of precipitation, and San Diego is approaching a deficit of 1 inch.
The lack of rainfall in 2025 doesn't tell the whole story, as both cities have received 6 and 4 inches below average since July, respectively.
Authorities have warned that the lack of rainfall has caused the undergrowth to become extremely dry, increasing the risk of fires.
Residents living near wildland areas are being asked to take precautions, including creating defensible spaces around their homes and making evacuation plans in case further fires break out in the coming days. There is.
Similar weather conditions sparked a series of wildfires in Los Angeles County earlier this month, burning more than 40,000 acres and killing more than 20 people.
Early wind gusts of more than 160 miles per hour complicated firefighting efforts, and the wildfire quickly spread out of control north of Los Angeles.
Local authorities reported that more than 12,000 structures were destroyed in the Palisades and Eaton fires, which would be considered one of the costliest disasters in U.S. history.
Investigators have not revealed the cause of the conflagration, but since there was no lightning in the area, agencies such as the ATF are focusing on the role humans may have played in starting the inferno.
According to a Congressional report, 89% of wildfires in the country from 2018 to 2022 were human-caused, with common ignition sources including debris, utility equipment and arson.
