Red flag warnings issued as high winds increase wildfire danger around Southern California – Long Beach Press Telegram

Intense Santa Ana winds and a sharp drop in humidity across parts of Southern California prompted the National Weather Service to issue red flag warnings for the region for Sunday and Monday.

“If a fire starts, there is likely to be rapid fire growth,” the NWS announced.

A red flag warning will go into effect at 7 p.m. Sunday and last until 6 p.m. Monday for the Los Angeles area and the Inland Empire.

Gusty north to northeast winds and relative humidity near 15 percent will lead to periods of critical fire weather in parts of the San Bernardino Mountains and below Cajon Pass in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, forecasters said.

Winds were expected to begin picking up Sunday night in the Riverside metropolitan area and the Temecula Valley, with gusts of 15 to 25 mph and gusts between 35 and 45 mph, some as high as 55 mph, by Monday.

Winds are likely to be strongest in and around mountains and in desert areas, the weather service said.

In Los Angeles County, north to northeast winds gusting 35 mph to 55 mph may be present, with the strongest winds over higher ground and along the Malibu coast. Humidity could drop to 10 percent in some places, according to the NWS.

Orange County will be under a wind advisory from Sunday evening until 4 p.m. Monday, the agency said, with north to northeast winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts of 35 to 45 mph expected. Wind-prone passes and canyons in the Santa Ana Mountains can experience gusts of up to 60 mph.

The wind follows the remnants of a trough of low pressure to the north of the region. Forecasters earlier predicted the low temperature would drop well south, generating significant rain on Saturday, but the weather has since changed.

A red flag warning is issued when factors such as high winds and low humidity can lead to dangerous fires within 24 hours. A fire weather alert is issued when these weather conditions are likely to exist for the next 12 to 72 hours.

With Santa Ana winds expected to pick up again later in the week, the NWS also issued a fire weather forecast for parts of Southern California from early Wednesday morning through Thursday night.

City News Service contributed to this report.