SoCal Fire Crews Brace For Weekend Santa Ana Winds After Brief Respite

LOS ANGELES, CA — Fire crews battling devastating wildfires in the Southland should get some respite from high winds overnight, but forecasters are already tracking two more wind events that could create more hazards over the weekend and carry into next week.

Major fires fanned by winds in Los Angeles County had burned a combined 35,000 acres by Friday morning, and intensifying wind-whipped flames destroyed over 10,000 buildings and killed at least 10 people.

Overnight gusts again topped 70 mph in the San Gabriel Mountains, and Santa Ana winds continued across the region Friday morning. The National Weather Service said a "significant drop off" in offshore flow beginning Friday afternoon should open up a small window of relief before the Santa Ana winds kick up again.

A red flag warning is set to expire at 6 p.m. on Friday.

"This gives the area about [an] 18-hour reprieve in the winds tonight through late morning Saturday before the next burst of offshore flow and wind begins later Saturday into Sunday morning," the weather service said. "This one seems generally focused on the San Gabriel Mountains but probably at least some advisory-level winds down into some of the valleys and Santa Monica Mountains."

By Saturday afternoon, the weather service said an "inside slider" will start to usher in the next Santa Ana event, initially with lighter gusts of 15 to 25 mph and building toward Sunday.

"Look for a classic Santa Ana with the main wind axis to extend from the mountains northeast of Santa Clarita to the far western Santa Monicas," forecasters said. "Wind advisories are a given with gusts between 40 and 50 mph. Cannot rule out a need for some low-end warnings, especially in the Santa Susana Mountains and western Santa Monicas."

Forecasters were optimistic Sunday's wind event would only last until late morning or early afternoon, setting up for another break in high winds forecast to last through much of Monday. Unfortunately, another burst of Santa Ana winds will be in the offing.

"Right now it looks like Tuesday will be the strongest day," the weather service said. "Unlike this week's very dangerous event, which was more of a northerly wind event, this one is very likely to be a traditional northeast Santa Ana event. Still, the low humidities and the winds will combine to bring enhanced fire danger to the area."

While no rain is expected through at least mid-week, the weather service said early forecasts left the door open for scant precipitation Thursday.

"Thursday is an interesting day as an upper low will be off the coast," the weather service said. "There is a 30 percent chance that it will pick up enough moisture to bring some very light rain to the southern portions of L.A. County. Rainfall, if any, unfortunately will be trivial."

FIRES LATEST: LA Fires Spur Curfew, Crackdown; False Evac Alert Stirs Panic, 10 Dead