Full Notification

An extended period of predominant offshore flow will bring critical fire weather conditions to much of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties through Tuesday afternoon. Offshore northeast winds gusts 35 to 50 mph this afternoon and evening will slowly diminish to 25 to 40 mph late tonight and Saturday morning. A very dry air mass will continue to combine with gusty northeast winds to bring critical fire weather conditions. The air mass will turn onshore on Saturday afternoon and evening. With the active fire conditions in place, erratic and gusty winds will likely develop. The seabreeze will likely combine with the antecedent dry air mass in place Saturday afternoon and evening. Critical fire weather conditions are likely to develop for periods on Saturday presenting hazardous conditions to first responders on the regional fires. Winds will turn back offshore between late Saturday night and Sunday and increase Sunday morning. Peak Santa Winds are expected Sunday through Monday, with wind gusts generally ranging between 40 and 55 mph across wind prone areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Widespread critical fire weather conditions will likely occur through 5 pm PST Tuesday.

* Winds...Northeast 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph through this evening diminishing to 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph later tonight into Saturday morning. Winds will increase late Saturday night through Sunday to 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. The strongest winds look to develop between Sunday and Monday across the area, then diminish through Tuesday. Winds will likely switch around to the southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 25 mph late Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening.

* Relative Humidity...Minimum humdities will fall to 3 to 10 percent each afternoon with very poor overnight recoveries.

* Impacts...If fire ignition occurs, conditions will be favorable for very rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior, including long range spotting, which would threaten life and property.

* AFFECTED AREAS: LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST ... VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST

Instructions:

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Use extreme caution with potential fire ignition sources.