Winter Solstice Brings Fire Weather In Fountain Valley

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA — Sorry guys. We just can't seem to get rid of this dry, gusty weather. In Orange County, the fire weather watch will be in effect from Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon on the first day of winter.

Cloudy skies were in the forecast in Orange County, along with highs of 59 in Mission Viejo, San Clemente, Yorba Linda and Laguna Beach; 60 in Newport Beach; and 61 in Fullerton, Anaheim and Irvine.

High winds will return to the Southland Wednesday evening and a fire weather watch will be in effect Thursday and Friday in the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains, the Angeles National Forest, the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, beach cities, metropolitan Los Angeles and the Hollywood Hills.

The fire weather watch, which is a step less severe than a red flag warning, will be in force from Thursday morning through Friday morning because of gusty winds and low humidity, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters said winds of 15 to 30 mph are expected, along with gusts of up to 50 mph amid humidity levels of between 8 and 15 percent.

Already in force in some areas is a wind advisory, indicating that 35- mph winds or gusts are expected. The advisory will be in effect in the same areas where the fire weather watch is scheduled.

The wind advisory went into effect at 8 a.m. Wednesday in the Antelope Valley, where it will expire at 9 Wednesday evening. In the San Gabriel Mountains, where it also began at 8 a.m., the warning will expire at 3 p.m. Thursday.

In the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, the Santa Monica Mountains and Los Angeles from the beach to the Hollywood Hills, the advisory will go into effect at 8 p.m. and expire at 10 a.m. Thursday.

The wind will make driving challenging on most area freeways, according to the NWS.
"When driving, use extra caution. Be prepared for sudden gusty cross winds," forecasters warned.

The NWS forecast cloudy skies Wednesday and highs of 52 degrees on Mount Wilson; 55 in Lancaster; 56 in Palmdale and Saugus; 60 in San Gabriel and Avalon; 61 in Burbank and Woodland Hills; 62 in downtown L.A. and Pasadena; 63 in Long Beach and at LAX.

Under sunny skies, temperatures will be as much as four degrees higher on Thursday, the first day of winter.

4-day Forecast for Fountain Valley

Today, mostly cloudy throughout the day.

Thursday December 21

Clear throughout the day. High 62, low 41.
Chance of precipitation: 10%. Wind 7 mph from the NNE

Friday December 22

Partly cloudy starting in the evening. High 64, low 42.
Chance of precipitation: 10%. Wind 1 mph from the ENE

Saturday December 23

Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High 65, low 44.
Chance of precipitation: 10%. Wind 1 mph from the SE

Sunday December 24

Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High 72, low 43.
Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 2 mph from the NNW
Data provided by darksky.net

Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash