Ahead of Monday’s strong and potentially destructive Santa Ana wind event, the National Weather Service has issued another infrequent Particularly Dangerous Situation warning.
The PDS warning for Ventura and Los Angeles counties will go into effect Monday at 12 p.m. and last until Tuesday at 10 a.m., the NWS said on X. The public was advised by the NWS to get ready appropriately.
SANTA ANA’S POWERFUL AND DAMAGING WINDSTORM IS COMING!Act now to get your house and loved ones ready for tomorrow afternoon’s anticipated return of EXTREME WIND and FIRE WEATHER! Winds are worst from Monday afternoon to Tuesday early.The tweet for #CAwx#SantaAnaWindspic is CuhRHgOTjF.
The wind event is predicted by the NWS to move swiftly on Monday, beginning in the L.A. County mountains in the afternoon and moving into the valleys and coastal regions by Monday evening or early at night.
According to the NWS, on Monday night and Tuesday early, wind gusts of up to 60 to 80 mph might impact the mountains in eastern Ventura County and Los Angeles, with gusts of 55 to 65 mph probable in many valley and coastal areas of these two counties.
Red Flag Warnings to take effect Monday
A Red Flag Warning has been issued for a large portion of Ventura and Los Angeles counties from late Monday morning through Tuesday evening, including Pasadena, where the alert will be in place from 8 a.m. Monday through 6 p.m. Tuesday. This is in addition to the humidity dropping considerably to the single digits. There are also parking restrictions in place. You may find more details here.
According to the NWS, these circumstances will result in “dangerous” fire weather. “New or existing fire ignitions will have a high risk for very rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior with long range spotting,” the National Weather Service stated.
“The most critical days will be Monday and Tuesday, and then Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we still are going to see gusty winds, they just won’t be as strong as they will be for the next 48 hours,” said KCAL9’s Meteorologist Marina Jurica.
Gusts of up to 60 mph were reported in parts of the Santa Clarita Valley around 10:40 a.m. on Monday, according to Jurica. These gusts moved into Ventura County, which is in western Los Angeles County, and then into the San Gabriel and San Bernardino County Mountains.
“Like what we saw a couple of weeks ago, winds do create more speed as they move down slop and those down slopping winds we are going to have to really watch for,” Jurica continued.
Fire Weather Watch
In these same regions, gusty offshore winds and extremely low humidity are expected to persist into Thursday. Wednesday evening through Thursday morning are predicted to have the greatest winds during this time, with gusts between 40 and 55 mph. A Fire Weather watch has also been issued for the majority of these areas from late Tuesday evening through Thursday evening due to the possibility of ongoing Red Flag conditions.
High Wind Watches
Additionally, the NWS has issued High Wind Watches for Ventura and portions of Los Angeles counties due to a “high risk of widespread damaging winds,” which will be in place from late Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning.
An upper low could bring lower temperatures, a risk of light rain, and mountain snow by Friday.
Power outages, felled trees, and hazardous sea conditions might result from moderate to high gusts.
Areas of most concern in Los Angeles County:
Areas of greatest concern in Ventura County:
Roads closed
On Sunday night, Caltrans District 7 officials declared that SR-27, also called Topanga Canyon Boulevard, would be closed between Mulholland Drive and Grand View Drive, only hours before severe winds were predicted to start tearing over Los Angeles County.
With the PDS warning in effect, the region is one of many that will be affected by severe winds that might reach 70 to 100 miles per hour.
According to officials, the closure will start at 10 a.m. Monday and continue until the red flag circumstances are lifted.
Preemptive moves in place
With the third PDS expected in three weeks coming up, Governor Gavin Newsom sent more resources to Southern California on Sunday.
According to a statement from the governor’s office, Newsom prepositioned 170 fire engines, water tenders, people, and planes to the area in preparation for the strong gusts, which might exceed 100 mph in certain areas.
According to a statement from Newsom, “the recent firestorms in Los Angeles have illustrated the importance of being in the right place at the right time.” “Crews can react more quickly and forcefully when specialist staff and equipment are placed strategically in wildfire-prone areas. Given the dangers of these circumstances, it is imperative that all families exercise caution.
Together with the more than 790 firefighting personnel that Cal Fire sent, the additional resources will be prepositioned throughout Southern California. This contains 76 engines that are positioned ahead of the wind in Kern, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties.
Cities take action
The city of Pasadena has implemented a number of parking restrictions beginning Monday, similar to the previous red flag warnings.
On Tuesday, the limitations will be in place from 8 a.m. until at least 6 p.m. Along “posted narrow and/or winding roads within Pasadena’s urban-wildland interface areas,” they will be in operation, according to a city statement.
Infringing vehicles will receive a citation and be towed.
You may find a complete list of street closures here.