Red Flag Warnings Continue Across Orange County

LOS ALAMITOS, CA — A high risk of wildfires has led officials to continue red flag warnings for large swaths of Southern California on Wednesday morning. Powerful Santa Ana winds and low humidity levels are expected to persist through the remainder of the week, scheduled to be in force until Friday night.

The National Weather Service said the wind would weaken by 10 to 20 miles per hour Wednesday but would regain strength Wednesday evening. After that, gusts of 45- 65 mph will be common.

"These winds will then gradually weaken Thursday night through the weekend," according to the NWS. But humidity levels of only 6 to 15 percent will linger through at least early next week.

As of Wednesday morning, red flag warnings were scheduled to remain in effect until 8 p.m. Friday in multiple areas. A red flag warning was in effect until 8 p.m. Friday in all of Orange County.

The wind in the red flag areas is expected to blow at between 15 and 35 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph in urban areas and up to 75 mph in the mountain, forecasters said.

Red flag warning are also in effect in the Santa Monica Mountain Recreational Area, the San Gabriel Mountains, the Angeles National Forest, the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and San Gabriel valleys, beach cities, metropolitan L.A., Downtown Los Angeles and the Hollywood Hills. No red flag warning was in force in the Antelope Valley.

The NWS forecast sunny skies in L.A. County Wednesday and highs of 60 on Mount Wilson; 63 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 69 in Saugus; 71 in Avalon; 75 in Woodland Hills; 76 in Pasadena; 77 in Downtown L.A., San Gabriel and at LAX; and at 79 in Long Beach.

Sunny skies were also forecast in Orange counties, along with highs of 71 in Laguna Beach; 72 in San Clemente; 74 in Newport Beach; 76 in Yorba Linda; 77 in Mission Viejo; and 78 in Fullerton, Anaheim and Irvine.

See smoke in your area? Be sure and call the fire department and report ASAP. Photos, news tips, and reader story ideas can be sent to your Orange County Patch Editor, Ashley.Ludwig@Patch.com

City News Service with Ashley Ludwig, Patch Editor

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