PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION (PDS) RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT 9 AM THIS MORNING UNTIL 9 AM THURSDAY DUE TO DAMAGING SANTA ANA WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITIES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS: SOUTHERN VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS / SANTA SUSANA MOUNTAINS / SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS -- AND RED FLAG WARNING DUE TO STRONG SANTA ANA WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES IN EFFECT FOR ALL OTHER TIMES UNTIL 11 AM FRIDAY IN THESE SAME AREAS. . PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION (PDS) RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT 9 AM THIS MORNING UNTIL 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON DUE TO DAMAGING SANTA ANA WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITIES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS: SAN FERNANDO VALLEY / SANTA CLARITA VALLEY / CENTRAL VENTURA COUNTY VALLEYS / SOUTHEASTERN VENTURA COUNTY VALLEYS / VENTURA COUNTY INLAND COAST ALL THE WAY TO THE BEACHES FROM MALIBU TO OXNARD -- AND RED FLAG WARNING DUE TO STRONG SANTA ANA WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES IN EFFECT FOR ALL OTHER TIMES UNTIL 6 PM THURSDAY IN THESE SAME AREAS. . RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM FRIDAY FOR THE INTERSTATE 5 CORRIDOR AND NORTHERN VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS DUE TO STRONG SANTA ANA WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES. . RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM THURSDAY FOR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY AND FOOTHILLS AND THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY AS WELL AS CALABASAS AND AGOURA HILLS DUE TO STRONG SANTA ANA WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES. . RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT 11 AM TODAY UNTIL 6 PM THURSDAY FOR THE LOS ANGELES BASIN ALL THE WAY TO THE COAST INCLUDING PALOS VERDES HILLS AS WELL AS THE ANTELOPE VALLEY IN ADDITION TO OJAI AND LAKE CASITAS AND THE CHANNEL ISLANDS INCLUDING CATALINA ISLAND DUE TO STRONG SANTA ANA WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES. ***THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION (PDS) FOR MUCH OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES!*** .A very strong, widespread, and long-duration Santa Ana wind event will bring widespread Extremely Critical fire weather conditions to many areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties Wednesday into Thursday. This will be a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION (PDS) Red Flag Warning event in many areas, with the combination of strong upper level wind support, tightening offshore pressure gradients (LAX-Daggett peaking at -7 to -8 mb), and moderate cold air advection. The strongest winds with this Santa Ana wind event are expected to be Wednesday morning into Wednesday night when widespread damaging wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph are likely in the mountains and foothills of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties (including the Santa Monicas and Santa Susanas), with isolated gusts of 80 to 100 mph possible in favored areas of the San Gabriels. Similar winds are expected once again in the mountains Thursday night. For wind prone coastal and valley areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, damaging gusts of 50 to 70 mph will be likely (including the Malibu Coast and Ventura County coastal plain). Due to the strong upper level wind support, typical wind sheltered areas such as portions of the LA basin all the way to the coast, Lake Casitas and Ojai, as well as the Channel Islands and Catalina Island are expected to see gusty north to northeast winds with associated Red Flag conditions. Humidity levels are also expected to lower to between 8 to 15 percent by Wednesday afternoon with these low humidities likely to linger into Thursday and Friday. These are Extremely Critical and highly volatile conditions. Any new fires in the Red Flag Warning area -- and especially the PDS Red Flag Warning area -- will have rapid fire spread, extreme fire behavior, and long range spotting. * WINDS. Northeast winds will increase to 30 to 45 mph with damaging gusts of 50 to 70 mph through tonight. Strongest winds expected along the Highway 118/210 corridors in eastern Ventura county valleys to western San Fernando valley, with highest risk for Simi Valley, Moorpark, Porter Ranch, and San Fernando. Offshore winds are expected to be 5 to 10 mph weaker on Thursday and into Friday. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY. Humidity levels will likely fall to between 8 and 15 percent by Wednesday afternoon, and linger into Thursday and Friday. * IMPACTS. If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior which would threaten life and property. With the threat of even stronger Santa Ana winds and drier fuels with the Wednesday/Thursday Santa Ana event, there will be an increased risk for long range spotting.
