Westside particularly vulnerable as powerful Santa Ana winds bring fire danger, experts say

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Set us as preferred Red flag warnings are in place Thursday morning for what officials say could be dangerous Santa Ana winds.Between Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon, large swaths of Southern California will see sustained winds of 20 to 40 mph and gusts from 40 to 60 mph, according to Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.In the windiest mountain locations, gusts could reach 70 mph, he said.High Wind Watches, Wind Advisories, & heat Advisories have all been issued.Avoid any activities that may create a spark, secure those outdoor holiday decorations, and stay hydrated! Make sure to check in on loved ones.

#CAwx #SantaAnaWinds #FireWx pic.twitter.com/A8zkll2UGNWhile winds will hit many parts of the region, officials are concerned about some specific areas.Although Southern California got some rain Sunday and Monday, most of it fell in areas south of Los Angeles County, Kittell said, leaving Los Angeles and Ventura counties very dry.Areas west of the 405 freeway are at a greater risk for wildfires than those east of the 405, which benefited from rain from post-Tropical Storm Rachel, said Daniel Swain, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources climate scientist.Some places received 2 to 5 inches of rain, while others in Southern California got essentially no rain.“West of that point, almost no rain fell at all, and in early October we had a record-breaking heat wave,” Swain said.

“East of the 405 in Southern California, the fire risk is lower because it recently rained.”The fire risk isn’t nearly as bad as in January 2025, just prior to the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, which destroyed much of Altadena and Pacific Palisades, Swain said.Still, there are concerns.“This is not January 2025.

The winds are not going to be anywhere near as strong.They will not be as wi...