Two weeks after multiple wildfires began raging in Los Angeles and its surrounding areas, forecasters now warn of new “extremely critical” fire risks in Southern California.
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According to the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, dangerous fire weather conditions will continue in Southern California at least mid-week, with a powerful offshore flow and low humidity.
“The Storm Prediction Center has outlined an Extremely Critical Risk of fire weather (level 3/3) for the regional mountains around the LA Basin as wind gusts may reach 70-100 mph,” the prediction reads. “A Critical Risk (level 2/3) is also in place for the regional valleys and coastal regions with gusts of 50-80 mph expected.”
The Weather Prediction Center further reported that a Critical Risk continues for the mountains on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service reported that approximately 12.8 million people in Southern California are under a red flag fire warning. An official update revealed that the warning is in effect until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21, due to damaging Sanata Winds and very low humidity.
The red flag warning impacts Santa Clarita Valley, Ventura County beaches, Ventures County inland, the Malibu Coast, the Western Santa Monica Mountains, the San Gabriel Mountains, and the Highway 14 corridor.
Meteorologist Warns Latest Fire Warning in Southern California Shouldn’t Be ‘Taken Lightly’ At All
While speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, Ariel Cohen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Oxnard, warned that the latest fire risk in Southern California will include a “powerful damaging wind event.”
She also stated that those in danger need to be prepared for “an extreme episode of fire weather.”
“This is not the time to be taking this weather lightly at all,” Cohen explained. “We’re on the cusp of another extreme event.”
Meanwhile, the Eaton and Palisades Fire continue to burn in and around Los Angeles. According to data collected by Cal Fire, the Palisades Fire has burned 23,713 acres of land. Firefighters continue to fight the large blaze, which is now at 59% containment.
The Eaton Fire has so far burned 14,021 acres of land. It is now at 87% containment.
The death toll from the wildfires currently stands at 27. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that many of the dead have not been identified. A total of 17 were from the Eaton Fire, which destroyed the city of Altadena. The others were from the Palisades fire.