Santa Ana Winds Prompt Fire Warnings

Wind blows palm fronds in Santa Monica. | Photo: *clairity*/Flickr/Creative Commons License

Another Santa Ana wind system was setting up over the mountains and canyons of Southern California today, and Red Flag warnings were posted at midmorning to extend into Tuesday night.
Sustained winds of 20 miles per hour may gust to 50 mph today and
through Tuesday in the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including
the Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood Hills, the National Weather Service predicted. The Santa Clarita Valley was also included in the high-wind warning zone.

Coastal and valley areas should experience winds of 15-25 miles per hour, with gusts to 40 mph, the National Weather Service warned.

Humidity readings were expected to drop into the single digits, as dry air from inland deserts was squeezed towards the coast through mountains, canyons, and passes.

In Los Angeles, scattered power line failures were reported before noon.

As of 1 p.m. the Los Angeles Fire Department had not called for a localized red flag day, which calls for parking restrictions in hillside neighborhoods.

With additional reporting by Zach Behrens