Santa Ana winds relax across Southern California - for now

Southern California is getting some temporary relief from dangerous Santa Ana winds that threatened firefighting efforts across the region this week.

The "9-day wind siege event has finally ended," the National Weather Service said in its latest forecast update Thursday. 

The offshore Santa Ana winds will continue to relax for the majority of Southern California, with most red flag warnings already expired except for the San Gabriel and Santa Susana mountains. That warning expires at 3 p.m. Thursday.

"Most coast/valley locations will see a 10 to 15 mph sea breeze this afternoon, which will not only bring cooler temps, but also very welcome higher humidities." 

The latest forecast estimates maximum temperatures will cool up to 6 degrees across the coast and valleys, with highs ending up mostly in the 60s.

Things will remain relatively calm for the weekend, but "a difficult to resolve weather pattern" begins early to mid-next week, the NWS said. 

"It is a forecast Southern California has to keep an eye on though," the agency added. 

Santa Ana winds are forecast to return next week, but it's still too early to say how strong this wind event will be.

Residents are still urged to exercise caution as poor air quality continues within areas where the Palisades and Eaton fires continue to burn.

To protect your health in areas affected by windblown dust and ash, it is advised to:

  • Avoid outdoor activities.
  • Keep windows and doors closed.
  • Use air conditioning and/or an air purifier.
  • Avoid using whole-house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air if other cooling methods are available.
  • Steer clear of other pollution sources such as fireplaces, candles, incense, grilling, and gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment.

Residents are encouraged to wear appropriate respiratory protection, such as N95 and P100 masks, which are available for free at L.A. County libraries and Local Assistance Disaster Resource Centers. These masks should be worn correctly, covering the nose and mouth without gaps, and replaced regularly if they become wet or soiled. Cloth masks, dust masks, and bandanas are not considered adequate protection.

The Source: This story was reported with information from the National Weather Service. 

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