Forecasters are predicting several days of Santa Ana winds this week, which can create critical fire conditions. The National Weather Service says that the winds will begin on Thursday and continuing through Saturday, the warmer temperatures and dry conditions that come with the winds has been a driving factor for the quick growth wildfires in the past.
“Surface high pressure building over the Great Basin on Wednesday night will give way to gusty Santa Ana winds across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties late Wednesday night through Saturday morning,” the National Weather Service warns in their Alert. The peak timing of the strongest winds will be from Thursday morning to Friday morning and wane until onshore winds begin recirculating on Sunday.
Moderate #SantaAnaWinds are expected late Wed PM-Sat AM for LA/Ventura Counties. The gusty NE winds along with warm and very dry conditions will lead to a potential for critical fire danger and rapid fire growth. Thanks to @IShootFire for the photo! #SoCal #CAwx #BePrepared pic.twitter.com/Z9k3RfJSgK
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) October 6, 2019
In the mountains, wind gusts may get up as high as 60 mph, and along the coast are expected to be in between 35 to 50 mph. Along with these gusts temperatures are expected to be in the mid-eighties. The winds are expected to be the strongest in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, however their strength is only being classified as moderate.
In the alert issued by The National Weather Service, they warn that, “the gusty Santa Ana winds along with warm temperatures in the 80s and very dry conditions will bring a strong concern for critical fire danger to the region. There is the potential for rapid fire growth and extreme fire danger if ignition occurs.”
