Gusty Winds, High Temperatures Prompt Rare February Red Flag Warning
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A mixture of strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity and high temperatures prompted a red flag warning for much of Southern California Monday.
The warning will be in effect through 6 p.m. Monday in the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the Angeles National Forest in L.A. County; the Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County; L.A. County's San Fernando, Santa Clarita and San Gabriel valleys; and the L.A. coastal zone, which includes beach cities, metropolitan Los Angeles, downtown L.A. and the Hollywood Hills.
"A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create extreme fire behavior," warned an NWS statement, forecasting a drop of humidity levels into the teens and single digits.
Wind gusts as strong as 58-miles-per hour are expected in the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains, according to the National Weather Services. Such windy conditions will make driving difficult, especially for motorists in high-profile vehicles, and could bring down trees and power lines.
At the same time, summertime temperatures were expected to remain abnormally high -- around 18 degrees higher than normal in some areas -- possibly reaching 85 in downtown L.A. and 90 in Yorba Linda.
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