A red flag warning is currently in effect from noon today through 8 pm Friday for dry thunderstorms that are expected to occur over the mountains and deserts of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties, as well as the Santa Clarita Valley. It is important to exercise caution during this time and take the necessary precautions to ensure safety.
Convection in Mexico has caused an upper-level disturbance that will pass through southwest California today and Friday. The disturbance will bring in monsoonal moisture, increasing the risk of thunderstorms until Saturday. The highest risk of thunderstorms will be from this afternoon through Friday, particularly close to Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Thunderstorms are expected to be high-based, meaning some may not produce precipitation. However, lightning strikes can still ignite fires, especially on the edges of precipitation cores. Although the frequency and coverage of any dry lightning is uncertain, considering the prolonged heatwaves and quickly drying fuels, there is a significant risk of fire weather. As a result, a red flag warning has been issued.
Until 8 PM PDT on Friday, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard has issued a red flag warning due to wind and low relative humidity. The previous fire weather watch has been replaced by this warning.
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There is a growing concern over the likelihood of dry thunderstorms, which could result in lightning-induced fires without significant rainfall. The risk of isolated dry thunderstorms is increasing, and it is crucial to be proactive in preventing potential ignitions.
Dry thunderstorms can produce strong and unpredictable outflow winds, which can gust up to 45 to 60 mph. These winds have the potential to spread any existing fires and ignite new ones quickly.
The risk of lightning-induced fire ignitions is on the rise, and there is a possibility of extreme fire behavior and growth if ignition takes place, threatening life and property. Additionally, gusty outflow winds could exacerbate the situation. A red flag warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either currently happening or will occur shortly.
It is crucial to exercise extreme caution with anything that can cause a wildfire. For those residing near wildland interfaces, it is essential to be ready to evacuate in case of a wildfire outbreak. For more information, visit readyforwildfire.org and wildfirerisk.org.
