Santa Ana Winds Return, Blanketing Monrovia, Arcadia, and Duarte.

The first major Santa Ana winds of the season have arrived, bringing a blast of hot, dry air to Southern California.

 

Residents in Monrovia, Arcadia, and Duarte will feel the effects as temperatures soar 10 to 15 degrees above normal.

 

This is not just a typical warm spell; it's a critical fire weather event that demands our full attention.

 

Officials have issued a Red Flag Warning for the western San Gabriel Mountains and parts of Ventura County, effective from Tuesday morning through Wednesday evening.

 

A Heat Advisory is also active for much of Los Angeles County, covering inland valleys and even downtown LA, signaling widespread high temperatures.

 

Ferocious Santa Ana gusts are expected to reach up to 45 miles per hour, especially impacting the Santa Clarita Valley and Interstate 5 corridor.

 

The combination of high winds and humidity levels plunging as low as five percent creates extreme fire danger.

 

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed that city emergency departments are on full standby for any heat or fire-related incidents.

 

She urged Angelenos to stay hydrated, check on vulnerable neighbors, and avoid any activity that could create a spark.

 

LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger echoed the warning, noting the county's Emergency Operations Center is actively monitoring the fluid conditions.

 

Residents are strongly advised to secure outdoor furniture and stay informed through local alerts like NotifyLA.

 

For those needing to escape the SoCal heatwave, LA cooling centers at local parks and library branches are open to the public.

 

Conditions are expected to remain warm and dry through the weekend, keeping the wildfire risk elevated across the region.

 

This severe weather alert serves as a stark reminder of the unique dangers our communities face each fall.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What does a Red Flag Warning mean for Los Angeles weather?

 

A Red Flag Warning is the highest alert for fire danger, issued by the National Weather Service when conditions of high heat, low humidity, and strong winds align to create the potential for extreme wildfire growth.

 

How can I stay safe during a Santa Ana wind event?

 

Avoid all outdoor burning, secure loose objects outside your home that could become projectiles, create defensible space around your property, and have an emergency plan ready in case of an evacuation order.