Gusty winds and low humidities are expected to return to Southern California this week, prompting officials to raise fire warning levels.
“The Santa Ana conditions will start setting up tomorrow,” KTLA meteorologist Henry DiCarlo said Tuesday. “That’s when we will start seeing an offshore wind. That means it will dry out the atmosphere and warm things up a little bit.”
The National Weather Service has already elevated its fire weather level to include Tuesday evening through Thursday.
“Elevated to critical fire weather conditions across portions of LA and Ventura Co due to the combination of gusty Santa Ana winds, very low humidities, and dry fuels,” the Weather Service posted on X .
A red flag warning has been issued for some local wind-prone mountains, including the Santa Monica, Santa Susana and San Gabriel mountains from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.
Wind gusts to 45 mph are expected in the mountain areas with some coastal regions reaching up to 30 mph, according to the weather service.