A rare “particularly dangerous situation” red flag warning is now active for portions of Southern California as the strongest winds from the ongoing Santa Ana wind event get underway.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles has issued a warning stating that today’s winds have already started to ramp up and will continue to accelerate through mid-morning.
Powerful gusts of 40 to 50 mph have been reported in the San Gabriel and the Santa Susanna mountains early Tuesday morning, and these winds are expected to become more widespread and move into the valley and coastal areas throughout the morning.
The strongest winds are forecasted to arrive quickly Tuesday morning and continue into Tuesday afternoon before briefly easing off during the late afternoon and evening.
However, the respite will be short-lived as dangerous winds are expected to ramp up again overnight and through Wednesday morning.
Peak gusts in Ventura and Los Angeles counties on Tuesday into Wednesday will vary based on terrain, with wind gusts of up to 70 mph possible in the mountains and gusts of up to 60 mph in some valley and coastal locations.
The National Weather Service has emphasized that extreme fire danger will persist through Wednesday. The PDS Red Flag Warnings are reserved for the most extreme fire weather scenarios, indicating that the current conditions are as severe as they get.
Residents are urged to stay aware of their surroundings, be prepared to evacuate if necessary, and avoid any activities that could potentially spark a fire.
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Source: NWS Los Angeles
