Southern California to see major wintertime fire threat
LOS ANGELES - A weather pattern that resembles late summer or fall will develop in Southern California this week.
Strong offshore winds, known as Santa Ana winds, will strengthen Tuesday and boost the fire danger to critical levels.
The landscape in Southern California is extremely dry, and the rainfall season has not started.
The Los Angeles International Airport has only received .03" of rain since Oct. 1, and with minimal moisture, the dried vegetation is ready to burn and can lead to a major wildfire fanned by strong, dry winds.
Wind gusts could approach 80 mph in some of the mountains near Los Angeles. These winds will also dry out the surface.
Relative humidity could fall below 10 percent. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles is advising residents to be in "Set Stage" and to be prepared to go in the event of a fire evacuation.
The pattern that is producing this critical fire threat could remain in place through Friday.