Santa Ana Winds Bring Heat and Fire Risk to SoCal
Southern California is experiencing a weak to moderate Santa Ana wind event, which began late Thursday and is expected to persist through the weekend. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), winds will peak on Saturday with gusts ranging from 30 to 45 mph, and isolated gusts in mountainous areas of Ventura and Los Angeles counties could reach up to 55 mph. Temperatures are forecasted to rise significantly, with highs near 90°F (32°C) along the coast. Downtown Los Angeles is expected to reach 87°F (31°C) on Sunday, while Santa Monica will see slightly cooler temperatures at 84°F (29°C). Red flag warnings have been issued for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, signaling critical fire danger due to warm, dry, and breezy conditions.