Rising winds in the Los Angeles area are expected to complicate firefighting efforts over the next few days, with little respite from the weather until later in the week. Wind speeds have begun increasing from single digits into the teens and are predicted to continue rising through Wednesday. Some wind gusts as high as 60 miles per hour are expected in areas already impacted by severe drought.
Despite January typically being the area's second wettest month, the Los Angeles area has received only 0.03 inches of rain since October 1, significantly below the usual 4.6 inches. The dry vegetation on the ground has fueled the rapid spread of fires, leading to larger fires than usual for this time of year.
Humidity is expected to increase in six or seven days, but the impact may be limited. While this change may not bring significant rainfall, even a slight increase in humidity levels could provide firefighters with a better chance to increase containment numbers.
