Strongest winds in over a decade could increase fire risk to dry Southern California
LOS ANGELES — The strongest winds in more than a decade could hit Southern California on Tuesday, potentially causing structural damage and creating an extreme fire risk in areas that have not seen substantial rain for months.
Starting Tuesday afternoon, the storm will hit Los Angeles and Ventura counties and peak in the early hours of Wednesday, when gusts could reach 80 mph (129 kph), the National Weather Service said Monday. Isolated gusts can reach speeds of 100 miles per hour in mountains and foothills.
The weather service warned of downed trees and overturned big rigs, trailers and RVs. Strong offshore wind gusts will also bring hazardous conditions to the coasts of Orange County and LA, including Catalina Island, and potential delays and turbulence at local airports.
According to Southern California Edison’s website, nearly 300,000 customers in the region are being considered having their power turned off for public safety.
The rising winds will act as an “atmospheric hair dryer” for vegetation, bringing a long period of fire danger that could extend into the more densely populated lower hills and valleys, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California , Los Angeles. Angeles and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
“We’ve really never seen a season as dry as this one, following a season as wet as the last one,” Swain said during a livestream on Monday. “All that extra abundant grass and vegetation growth, immediately followed by a wind event of this magnitude while it is still so incredibly dry,” increases the risk.
Recent dry winds, including those from the infamous Santa Anas, have contributed to warmer-than-average temperatures in Southern California, which has seen very little rain so far this season.
Southern California has not seen more than 0.25 inches of rain since early May. According to the US Drought Monitor, much of the region is in a moderate drought situation. There have now been cases in the north several heavy storms.
Areas where gusty winds could cause extreme fire conditions include the charred footprint of last month’s winds Franklin Firedamaging or destroying 48 buildings, mostly homes, in and around Malibu.
The fire was one of nearly 8,000 wildfires that scorched more than 1 million acres in the Golden State last year.
According to the NWS, the last wind event of this magnitude occurred in November 2011, causing more than 400,000 customers to lose power throughout LA County, according to the Los Angeles Times reported. At night, the normally busy streets were dark and without traffic lights.
Planned power shutoffs for the safety of the public, if deemed necessary, are expected to occur Tuesday and Wednesday, Southern California Edison said.
“The power grid is built to withstand high winds,” said Jeff Monford, spokesman for the utility. “The problem here is the possibility of debris becoming airborne and hitting wires… or a tree falling.”