National Weather Service Issues Red Flag Warning for Parts of LA County

By City News Service

Strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity, warm temperatures and dry fuels have raised the risk of rapidly spreading wildfire in portions of Los Angeles County today.

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag warning, effective 6 a.m. today through 6 p.m. Sunday, due to gusty northeast winds and low relative humidity for the county's mountains. A Red Flag warning was also in effect for coastal and valley areas of Los Angeles County, effective noon today through 6 p.m. Sunday.

"If fire ignition occurs, there would be the potential for rapid wildfire spread that could threaten life and property," according to the NWS.

Moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds were expected to develop across the mountains before descending into coastal and valley areas overnight, according to the Weather Service.

Peak winds with gusts between 45 and 55 mph were expected today, forecasters said.

Isolated gusts topping 60 mph were possible, according to the NWS.

Gusts of 40 to 50 mph were expected in coastal and valley areas.

Winds were expected to diminish on Sunday, but gusts will still be in the 30-45 mph range, forecasters said.     Relative humidity was expected to fall to 15 percent or less in the mountains early today with the drier air making its way into coastal and valley areas later in the day. The air will be even drier tonight into Sunday morning, with relative humidity between 8 and 15 percent, according to the Weather Service.

Temperatures, meanwhile, will reach highs in the 60s to lower 70s at lower elevations today and will rise to the mid-60s to mid-70s on Sunday, forecasters said.

"If fire ignition occurs, there would be the potential for rapid wildfire spread that could threaten life and property," according to the NWS.

The weather service issues Red Flag warnings when critical fire weather conditions are expected.