Winds are set to intensify in Southern California this week, coupled with a drop in humidity, significantly raising the risk of wildfires in areas still recovering from recent devastating blazes. Forecasters have issued warnings about the potential dangers ahead.
Gusty winds are expected to reach up to 80 mph across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties as conditions worsen from Tuesday into Wednesday. The local weather service has cautioned that this could lead to scattered downed trees, power outages, and rapid fire growth.
Regions with dry vegetation, particularly areas previously affected by last month’s Franklin Fire that damaged nearly 50 structures in Malibu, are under heightened alert for “extreme fire conditions.”
Last year, California faced nearly 8,000 wildfires that scorched over 1 million acres. The ongoing dry winds have also contributed to unseasonably warm temperatures in Southern California, where rainfall has been almost nonexistent this season. In stark contrast, Northern California has experienced multiple significant storms recently.
Experts warn that the stark “extreme precipitation disparity” between these regions is likely to continue throughout the winter months. Southern California has been in a notable drought, with some areas, including portions of San Diego County, experiencing their driest start to the season in over 150 years. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a significant portion of the region has fallen into moderate drought conditions.
