Santa Ana winds are expected to blow into Southern California on Thanksgiving Day, prompting officials to warn residents of possible high fire danger conditions.
The fire risk watch is a seemingly annual reminder of changing climate conditions, which bring dry weather at a time of year when historically, rain would give vegetation much needed moisture, weather officials said.
Despite the continued relative cooling in the area of highs in the 70s, lows in the 50s, all other wildfire ingredients will likely be present: dry air, dry vegetation and strong, gusty winds.
“As long as we have the low humidity and winds, the fire danger is going to be high,” said Bruno Rodriguez, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s San Diego office. Weather service officials expect the strongest winds to arrive Thursday evening and subside by Friday afternoon.
Winds are anticipated to blow strongest in the mountainous and canyon areas at 45 to 65 mph speeds, the weather service said. In Orange County, those areas include the Santa Ana Mountains, Trabuco Canyon, and parts of Mission Viejo and Lake Forest, near where the Silverado fire burned earlier this fall.
Similar gusts are expected to blow into the Cajon Pass in San Bernardino County, along with foothill communities like Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, northern parts of Rialto and Fontana, Yucaipa and Beaumont, and in Riverside County, communities near the 15 and 215 freeway interchange, such as Murrieta.
The northern San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys may also be pounded with 30 mph winds, gusting up to 55 mph. Foothill communities in the San Gabriel Valley should anticipate comparable winds.
Urban areas and the coast may see less spirited winds, blowing in about 20 to 30 mph.
This week’s fire danger warning highlighted another way a changing climate has impacted California these past several years: drier shoulder seasons like fall and spring. In the past, the seasons would provide rain to water the state’s golden hills, parched by the summer, climate experts have noted.
The lack of rain and moisture in the air leaves vegetation dry, perfect fuel for a wildfire if a spark were to make its way toward brush.
“Just be extra aware of the fact that we have very dry fuels ’cause we haven’t had much rain,” said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard office. “Be smart when you’re out, not starting any ignition sources, matches or things like that,”
Though conditions are dangerous, the fire weather watch did not prompt movement from some fire agencies, such as the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which said Tuesday it has no plans to increase staffing on Thanksgiving.
Other agencies like the Orange County Fire Authority also do not plan to increase staffing, but will remain fully staffed throughout Thanksgiving, said Capt. Greg Barta.
A fire weather watch, issued by the National Weather Service, is the third to the more severe fire warnings and red flag warning, he said.
“If anything changes and there is a heightened sense where there could be a weather event, we will respond accordingly,” Barta said.
