The Santa Ana wind forecast for Southern California has worsened, with officials saying the conditions will bring the "risk of large fire growth" beginning Monday. The National Weather Service office in Oxnard on Sunday issued the most extreme version of its red flag fire weather warning, known as a "particularly dangerous situation" alert.
A large swath of Los Angeles and Ventura counties is likely to be affected, including burn areas in Malibu and Altadena, weather service meteorologists said. They warned residents to prepare for the event, which is expected to start at noon Monday and continue until 10 a.
Gusts of 50 to 70 mph are forecast for the coasts and valleys. In the mountains and foothills, gusts from 60 to 80 mph, with isolated gusts of mph, are expected. Fill up gas for cars and generators, secure outdoor items and adjust travel plans," said Rose Schoenfeld, a weather service meteorologist.
Ojai and Pasadena fall outside the boundary, Schoenfeld said. A conventional red flag warning — indicating critical fire weather conditions and rapid fire spread with any new ignition — is already in effect for wide swaths of the counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura from 10 a. Monday through 10 p. The new alert is an unprecedented fifth issuance of a "particularly dangerous situation" enhancement to a red flag warning in a single season by the weather service's Oxnard office, which covers Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
The first three times the office issued that warning were followed by fires igniting and spreading rapidly — the 19,acre Mountain fire in Ventura County in November, which razed structures; the 4,acre Franklin fire, which spread rapidly in Malibu and destroyed 20 buildings in December; and this month's Palisades and Eaton fires, among the most destructive and deadliest in modern California history.
