The Storm Prediction Center has updated its fire weather forecast for Monday and Tuesday, raising concerns for an 'extremely critical' fire weather area in Southern California. This alert, at a level 3 of 3, covers portions of the Ventura Valley to the San Bernardino Mountains.
Adding to the severity, a critical fire weather alert at a level 2 of 3 has been issued for more than 8 million people in the region. Areas such as Riverside, Glendale, San Bernardino, and Irvine are expected to experience winds of 20-40 mph with isolated higher gusts, coupled with very dry air.
Across the extremely critical fire weather area, gusts could exceed 50 mph, posing significant challenges for firefighting efforts. The forecast for Tuesday indicates that the critical and extremely critical fire weather areas will overlap, affecting similar populations and regions.
Winds are projected to peak on Tuesday, with gusts potentially reaching 45-70 mph in these areas. The National Weather Service has also issued 'Particularly Dangerous Situation' red flag warnings for parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
While not as severe as previous weeks, the combination of gusty winds, dry air, and ongoing drought conditions will create a challenging environment for firefighters working to contain the fires.
