Triple-Digit Temps, Santa Ana Winds To Pose SoCal Fire Risk

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Santa Ana winds, low humidity and unseasonably warm temperatures will come with increased wildfire risk across Southern California for the remainder of the week, forecasters say.

Temperatures are expected to be well above average across Southern California through Friday with valleys and deserts topping 100 degrees.

The National Weather Service is forecasting wind gusts of between 30-40 mph across the region, though gusts could reach 60 mph in the mountains east of Santa Clarita. Along with it comes humidity levels that will drop to 10 percent in some areas, including the coasts, that will bring increased fire risk.

"Localized and brief red flag conditions are likely ... for 1 to 3 hours on Thursday and Friday in the windiest and driest locations," the NWS said.

In Los Angeles County, the heat is expected to peak on Friday with temperatures in the 80s-90s on the coast and basin, 97 degrees downtown and 85 to 100 degrees in the valleys and deserts.

In San Diego, Orange and Riverside counties, temperatures on the coast are expected to be between 8 and 12 degrees above average. Temperatures will near 100 degrees in the inland valleys and exceed 100 in the low desert, the NWS said.

On Friday, NWS expects temperatures to max out at 92 degrees in Downtown Los Angeles, 93 degrees in Anaheim, 79 degrees in San Clemente, 92 degrees in Mission Viejo, 94 degrees in Santee, 82 degrees in San Diego, 97 degrees in Riverside and 90 degrees in Banning, 102 degrees in Palm Springs.

Temperatures will begin to cool Saturday before returning to around seasonal averages early next week.