Critical Fire Danger in Orange County Inland Areas

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — A period of prolonged, critical fire weather conditions will threaten large swaths of the Southland Wednesday and Thursday amid gusty Santa Ana winds, low humidity, rising temperatures and parched vegetation according to the National Weather Service.

Low humidity and high temperatures along with dry brush creates a perfect storm, a red flag for fire weather.

That red flag warning denoting a high risk of wildfire will remain in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday in the interior Orange County mountain areas, San Gabriel Mountains in L.A. and Ventura counties, the Angeles and Los Padres national forests, the Santa Monica Mountains, the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys and the L.A. County coast, which includes beach cities, metropolitan L.A.. and the Hollywood Hills.

In the San Gabriels and the forests that cover the mountains, winds of between 20 and 35 miles per hour are expected, gusting at between 45 and 55 mph, a National Weather Service statement said, adding the humidity level will be only between 3 and 15 percent.

In the Santa Monicas, the valleys and the Los Angeles County coastal zone, the wind will be slightly tamer, blowing at between 15 and 30 mph and gusting at between 35 and 45 mph, although gusts of more than 50 mph are possible on the western peaks of the Santa Monica Mountains, according to the NWS.

"A prolonged period of critical fire weather conditions will impact portions of southwest California through Thursday evening," according to an NWS statement. "Any fire ignitions will have the potential for very rapid spread and extreme fire behavior due to the combination of critical fire weather conditions and very dry fuels."

Temperatures, meanwhile, will continue to climb, reaching above-normal levels Wednesday, with an even sharper spike forecast for Thursday. Highs will reach the mid-90s Wednesday and triple-digit levels in some communities on Thursday.

Sunny skies are forecast in Orange County, along with highs of 82 in Newport Beach; 85 in San Clemente; 89 in Mission Viejo; 90 in Irvine and Laguna Beach; 93 in Anaheim; 94 in Yorba Linda; and 96 in Fullerton.

Off the coast, a small craft advisory will be in force until 3 a.m. Thursday because of rough seas. Beach goers, be aware that ocean water advisories are still in effect until Friday, following the threat of bacteria in the water, due to Monday's storms.

"The unseasonably hot conditions during the daytime will likely result in an increased risk of heat-related illnesses, especially for the homeless, elderly, infants and anyone participating in outdoor activities," warned an NWS statement.

The NWS forecast sunny skies Wednesday along with highs of 80 in Palmdale, Lancaster and on Mount Wilson; 82 in Avalon; 86 in Saugus; 87 in Pasadena; 89 in Burbank and at LAX; 90 in San Gabriel; 92 in downtown L.A. and Woodland Hills; and 94 in Long Beach.

Thursday's highs will be even warmer -- 99 in downtown L.A. and Yorba Linda, and 100 in Long Beach and Woodland Hills.

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