…FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF LOS ANGELES AND
VENTURA COUNTIES 10 AM MONDAY UNTIL 6 PM WEDNESDAY DUE TO MODERATE
TO LOCALLY STRONG SANTA ANA WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITIES…
.As surface high pressure builds into the Great Basin, Santa Ana
winds are expected to increase late Monday morning or afternoon,
then peak Monday night into Tuesday night. Offshore winds are
expected to persist some by Wednesday, but very dir will persist.
With the strong likelihoold of widespread single digit humidities
with this event, confidence is increasing for a long duration
Red Flag event. In addition, there is the potential for a high
end Red Flag event across some of the windiest areas Monday night
through Tuesday night, as localized wind gusts of 50 to 65 mph
could overlap with single digit humidities across the western
San Gabriels, Santa Susanas, and western Santa Monicas.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard has issued a
Fire Weather Watch for gusty Santa Ana winds and very low
relative humidity, which is in effect from late Monday morning
through Wednesday afternoon.
* WINDS…Santa Ana winds expected to increase sharply late Monday
morning or afternoon, then peaking Monday night through Tuesday
night when speeds of 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 35 to 50 mph
will likely be common, including typical wind prone coastal
areas. Isolated gusts as high as 55 to 65 mph during peak in
the windiest locations, such as the western San Gabriels, Santa
Susanas, and western Santa Monicas. Offshore winds expected to
diminish some on Wednesday.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…Humidities are expected to lower to around
15 percent in many areas by Monday afternoon, with widespread
humidities of 5 to 10 percent likely from Monday night or
Tuesday and persisting into Wednesday, with isolated readings as
low as 3 percent possible.
* IMPACTS…If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for
rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior which would threaten
life and property.