Southern California’s fire threat Monday night is a ‘particularly dangerous situation’
The fire danger growing across parts of southern California is a “particularly dangerous situation,” forecasters warned on Monday.
Santa Ana winds expected to roar over the region will intensify Monday night into Tuesday, potentially fostering “extreme and life-threatening fire behavior” throughout the region.
A strong air pressure gradient building over southern California will spark a classic Santa Ana wind event, which features strong winds rushing over the coastal mountains toward the Pacific Ocean. These winds force air to warm up and dry out significantly as it rushes toward lower elevations.
Strong winds and low humidity are a perfect combination for the rapid ignition and spread of wildfires throughout the affected areas.
“Due to the expected long duration of dangerous fire weather conditions and critically dry fuels, there is the increasing potential for any new ignitions to have very rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior (including long range spotting),” the NWS office in Los Angeles said on Monday.
The agency added: “As a result, there is the increasing threat for fire weather conditions to rival other historical fires in recent times including the Mountain and Thomas Fires.”
Forecasters expect wind gusts of 50-80 mph to build across the region, with the greatest fire threat existing between 10:00 p.m. Monday through 2:00 p.m. Tuesday.
The high-risk nature of this event prompted forecasters to add the wording “particularly dangerous situation” to the red flag warning draped across the region. This phrase, which is more commonly seen during severe thunderstorm outbreaks, emphasizes the threat to life and property posed by any fires that spark during these favorable conditions.
Please remain alert for rapidly changing conditions over the next couple of days if you’re in an area prone to wildfires. Take extra care not to engage in any activities that could accidentally spark an out-of-control blaze, including stuff like flicking cigarettes on the ground and parking your vehicle on dry grass.
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