As firefighters continue to battle blazes in Los Angeles that have leveled entire neighborhoods, winds are expected to intensify through Wednesday evening, potentially further complicating efforts.
Gusty winds combined with persisting dry weather conditions are increasing extreme fire threats in the region, officials said during a press conference Sunday.
A red flag warning is in effect in the region as northeast wind gusts surpassed 50 mph on Sunday, Los Angeles City Fire Kristin Crowley said. The warning will remain in place until 6 p.m. local time Wednesday as strong Santa Ana winds are also expected to pick up in coming days.
The naturally occurring weather phenomenon was particularly widespread this year, with gusts reaching hurricane strength at times.
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These winds combined with low humidity and very dry vegetation “will keep the fire threat in Los Angeles County very high,” according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Maroney.
While the threat is set to last until Wednesday, Los Angeles is expected to experience the strongest winds on Tuesday, Crowley and Maroney warned.
“It’s very important that the community understands that these wind events are coming,” Crowley said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who has been the subject of criticism over the city’s preparedness ahead of the fire, assured Angelenos that the city is ready to endure the strong winds with the support of every available firefighter in Los Angeles.
The wind gust forecast in the state is expected to remain relatively unchanged for the next four days.
Mountainous areas have already experienced winds of over 60 mph on Sunday. In the next few days, winds of 25 to 40 mph are expected in these areas with the possibility of gusting up to 70 mph.
Along the coast, winds will range from 20 to 30 mph, gusting up to 55 mph.
Around downtown Los Angeles winds are expected to range from 10 to 20 mph, gusting up to 30 mph.
The strong winds allow the fire to spread quickly, with embers sparking flames in new areas, making the blazes particularly challenging to contain.
