Bad news for fire-ravaged Southern California: As Los Angeles area firefighters continue to battle flames in multiple locations, fierce Santa Ana winds are expected to return beginning on Monday, posing “potential extreme fire risk.”
“Gusty winds in the forecast next week are not expected to be as intense as the windstorm that led to these destructive fires, but we are concerned about another potential extreme fire risk on Monday and Tuesday,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement.
He predicts “gusty winds and an elevated fire threat” with winds of 40-60 mph to possibly as high as 85 mph.
Winds early next week are likely to be easterly and may behave differently than the powerful northeast winds the region experienced this past week, but, AccuWeather warns, they can still cause significant wildfire dangers.