Winds Intensify in Southern California with No Rain Expected Soon

Los Angeles: Wildfire conditions are heating up in Southern California this week. Those Santa Ana winds are back, and they’re bringing some serious trouble just when firefighters were making headway.

These hot, dry winds are not just a nuisance; they’re fanning the flames and spreading the fires even further. It’s like they’re tossing burning embers around like confetti.

When the winds get strong enough, they can even ground firefighting aircraft, which is a big issue. That’s what happened last Tuesday night when the Palisades Fire kicked off.

Meteorologist Cody Braud from Fox Forecast Center said we can expect wind gusts between 50 and 70 mph, with Tuesday likely being the worst day.

Firefighters had a bit of a break from the winds over the weekend, but it looks like that won’t last. The Palisades Fire has already grown to over 23,000 acres, which is about half the size of Brooklyn, and it’s only 11% contained as of Sunday.

The dry air and high winds are creating critical fire conditions that will stick around this week. Satellite images show just how bad it is.

While the winds might not hit 100 mph again like they did on the fire’s first night, they’ll still be strong, especially in the hills of Los Angeles County.

Braud mentioned that it’ll be windy through Wednesday, but thankfully not as bad as the initial gusts that sparked the fires.

Even though the winds might calm down after Wednesday, the dry conditions will still be perfect for fires to keep spreading.

Forecasters are warning that winds will pick up again Sunday afternoon, and with no rain in sight, even gusts of 30 to 50 mph could spark new fires or fuel the existing ones.

The lack of moisture in the air is a big problem, and those winds are what really make it tough. They blow embers around, which can easily start new fires.

Since Tuesday, the fires have already burned through at least 39,000 acres.

As of Sunday, the fires in Los Angeles County have burned at least 39,000 acres, and sadly, the death toll has risen to at least 16 people, with nearly 200,000 people displaced.

Tens of thousands of residents in Los Angeles are still under evacuation orders, and over 12,000 structures have been lost in just five days.