With that cool, rainy Halloween now a memory, Santa Ana winds are moving into Southern California starting Thursday, bringing escalating heat and critical fire danger in mountain areas.
Residents can expect a “weak to moderate Santa Ana wind across Southern California,” said Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, with conditions developing late Thursday and through the weekend.
The winds are expected to peak on Saturday, with gusts in the 30- to 45-mph range, he said. Isolated gusts in mountainous areas of Ventura and Los Angeles counties could reach up to 55 mph…