Fire Weather Watch Pushed Back To Thursday

LOS ANGELES — Another round of Santa Ana winds will blow into parts of the Southland beginning late tonight and continuing through Thursday, against raising concerns about potential brush fires as humidity levels fall.

The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch that will take will take effect at 3 a.m. Thursday and remain in effect until 6 p.m. that evening in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, the San Gabriel Mountains, the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) freeway corridors, the Malibu Coast, Calabasas and the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.

The fire weather watch was originally expected to take effect at noon Wednesday, however, forecasters pushed it back, saying humidity levels are not expected to drop to critical levels until early Thursday morning.

"The gusty offshore winds will begin late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, likely peak Wednesday Night into Thursday, then gradually decrease through Friday," according to the NWS. "Humidity levels will take time to lower, however. As such, the threat of reaching six or more hours of low humidity and gusty wind combinations is low for Wednesday but remains around 50 percent for Thursday."

Forecasters said mountain areas will experience winds of 20 to 30 mph, gusting to 45 mph, along with potential isolated gusts reaching 55 mph. Valleys will likely see winds of 15 to 25 mph, gusting to 35 mph, potentially reaching 45 mph, according to the NWS.

Humidity levels in all affected areas are expected between 12% and 25% Wednesday evening, falling as low as 8% Thursday.

"A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are likely to occur in the coming days. Residents near wildland interfaces should prepare now on what to do if a wildfire breaks out," forecasters said.

— By City News Service, Inc.