Red Flag Warnings - Southern California drying trend

Southern California drying trend continues...record high high's and record high low temperatures...forecast for very low humidity, high winds at times.

GACC/NIFC Weather Discussion: Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 http://gacc.nifc.gov/oscc/predictive/outlooks/Scal_Fire_Potential.pdf

***LOCALLY STRONG AND GUSTY OFFSHORE WINDS ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
THROUGH MONDAY***
***UNSEASONABLY WARM AND VERY DRY ACROSS MOST OF THE REGION THROUGH MONDAY***

A strong ridge of high pressure over California will maintain well above normal temperatures and very low humidity over most of the region through Monday. There will be locally strong and gusty north to east winds over the mountains and below the canyons and passes of Southern California through Monday.
Winds will be 12 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph over the wind prone areas. A Pacific trough will bring cooler temperatures and higher humidity to the region starting Tuesday of next week.

GACC/NIFC Fire Potential Discussion: Thursday, Jan 15, 2009
Despite the recent drying trend and the continuation of locally strong offshore winds across Southern California, green-up among the light, flashy fuels along with high live fuel moisture content should mitigate any large fire concerns through the forecast period.
CWCG Preparedness Level: CWCG Preparedness Level 2, MACS Mode 2

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PST SATURDAY. AREAS OF NORTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 55 MPH WILL PERSIST AT LEAST THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE ACROSS EASTERN VENTURA AND WESTERN LOS ANGELES COUNTIES. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DECREASE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY... HOWEVER GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE STILL POSSIBLE THROUGH THE WEEKEND. MEANWHILE...
WIDESPREAD HUMIDITIES AT OR BELOW 10 PERCENT ARE EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY WITH JUST A SLIGHT INCREASE OVER THE WEEKEND.

Instruction:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING NOW. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.

Area: VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL - SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA - VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS - LOS ANGELES COUNTY COASTS INCLUDING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - SANTA CLARITA VALLEY-

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PST SATURDAY DUE TO GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA- Update sent at 09:35 PST on 2009-01-15

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PST SATURDAY DUE TO GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS / LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS / ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST- Update sent at 09:35 PST on 2009-01-15

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PST FRIDAY DUE TO GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed VENTURA COUNTY COASTS- Cancel sent at 09:35 PST on 2009-01-15

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PST FRIDAY DUE TO GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS- Cancel sent at 09:35 PST on 2009-01-15

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PST FRIDAY FROM LEO CARRILLO BEACH TO THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS DUE TO GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed LOS ANGELES COUNTY COASTS INCLUDING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES- Cancel sent at 09:35 PST on 2009-01-15

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PST FRIDAY DUE TO GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed SANTA CLARITA VALLEY- Cancel sent at 09:35 PST on 2009-01-15

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PST SATURDAY FOR THE VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS THE SANTA MONICA RANGE DUE TO GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES Actual/Immediate/Severe/Observed LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY- Cancel sent at 09:35 PST on 2009-01-15

WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM PST FRIDAY Actual/Future/Severe/Possible VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS-LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE- Update sent at 09:01 PST on 2009-01-15

GUSTY SANTA ANA WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA THROUGH AT LEAST FRIDAY Actual/Immediate/Severe/Likely SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS RECREATIONAL AREA- Update sent at 09:01 PST on 2009-01-15