Awning Company in Santa Ana, CA

Fire season continues to drag on with another round of Santa Ana winds and bone-dry conditions this week.

While January typically marks one of the area’s wettest months, the rain has been a no-show so far. Without rainfall, there’s little to blunt the impact of the dry, gusty winds.

“Everything is just absolute tinder out there, and it's going to get drier and warmer,” UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said, during an online briefing.

The winds were expected to increase again on Wednesday. Gusts could reach 40 to 60 mph overnight, said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

A red flag warning was expected to remain in place through Thursday for much of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Conditions could start to improve Thursday night into Friday, but some spots will stay breezy and dry.

"It is still a dangerous environment through Friday," Kittell said. "If any fires were to get started, they could grow fairly fast."

Meanwhile, temperatures are rising. By Thursday, highs could reach the upper 70s and 80s locally. But a bit of a reprieve from fire weather could be on the way.

When will it rain in Southern California?

Things are going to change rather abruptly over the weekend, Kittell said Wednesday. A low pressure system was expected to slowly move through California, likely bringing at least some rain to most local areas.

Just how much or whether the storm would materialize was still unclear. Kittell called it "a really tricky" forecast that depends on the track of the system.

Most areas could see at least some rain between Saturday and Monday, which could tamp down current fire conditions but won't shut down the season.

More intense rainfall or thunderstorms, however, could cause problems in recent burn scars. During intense rainfall, burned slopes become vulnerable to flash floods and debris flows.

Why has fire season dragged on?

Southern California typically gets dry, windy conditions during the peak of the rainy season. But with enough rainfall, those winds don't create critical fire conditions, Kittell said.

With only a few showers since May, the area has had an unusually dry start to the season. Less than a half-inch of rainfall has been recorded in most local areas, according to the Ventura County Watershed Protection District. Normal rainfall this time of year runs from 6 to 9 inches.

The Ventura County Fire Department recently reported moisture levels in the brush continue to hover just above critically dry levels, far below the historical average. At that mark, fires become more difficult to suppress, officials said.

Will Santa Ana winds return?

Next week, there could be a return to dry conditions.

"We're not seeing any signals for rain through the first week of February after this one," Kittell said Wednesday.

There are some signs that winds also could pick up again. But the forecast doesn't show a strong Santa Ana at least through next week, according to Kittell.

“Let's hope we get as gentle, but soaking a rain as possible in Southern California this weekend,” Swain said, “because that might be it for the foreseeable future.”

Cheri Carlson covers the environment for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.

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Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Millions of California residents were placed under a red flag warning through Thursday amid threats of further fires with looming winds in the forecast, according to multiple reports.

"If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior and rapid fire growth, which would threaten life and property," the National Weather Service said early Wednesday morning.

More than 10 million Californians across the southern part of the state are under a "particularly dangerous situation" red flag warning for parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties, officials said.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County medical examiner said the death toll had risen by one to 28 as new and ongoing wildfires prompted evacuations near San Diego after fires erupted around Jan. 7 where roughly 15,000 or more structures have been destroyed totaling billions of dollars in damage.

The Red Flag Warnings were extended to 8 p.m. PST on Thursday, the National Weather Service Los Angeles said Tuesday despite a weakening of wind, indicating an increased risk of fire damage due to warm temps and very low humidity tied with stronger wind gusts 30 to 65 mph in some parts.

The Lilac Fire in the San Diego area was reported to be 90% contained where fire crews made "good progress" throughout Tuesday night, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CalFire, said Wednesday morning. So far 85 acres have been torched.

Meanwhile, the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County burned more than 25,000 acres and was 68% contained, and the Eaton Fire was 91% contained with roughly 14,025 acres gone as of Wednesday, according to the CalFire.

Eleven of the dead were reported in Pacific Palisades, with 17 reported dead near Pasadena and Altadena in the Eaton fire, according to authorities.

However, downtown LA has not seen a measurable rainfall since Christmas Eve when roughly 0.02 inches of rain inch trickled, but much-needed rain in the forecast will is a glimmer of hope for many fire-weary officials, according to AccuWeather.

"Just about every location in coastal Southern California, as well as the Southern California mountains, should get in on some showers this weekend," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk said Tuesday.

President Donald Trump is expected to visit the afflicted region as early as Friday. But Trump has yet to speak to Gov. Gavin Newsom, reports say. Meanwhile, former Vice President Kamala Harris flew to Los Angeles Monday after leaving Washington to visit a fire station and distribute food and aid to the impacted community.

On Tuesday morning, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated the city was taking "aggressive action" ahead of forecasted rain.

"To shore up burn areas and stem the flow of toxic debris," the mayor wrote in an executive order.

"Crews are working right now to guard against possible debris flows and mudslides in Southern California," Newsom posted Tuesday morning on social media. "These winter storm events are even more destructive over wildfire-scarred terrain."

Bass ordered the installation of reinforced barriers, the removal of debris and a diversion of runoff from Los Angeles' storm water system to the sewer system.

"This is to prevent additional damage to areas already ravaged by fire and also to protect our watershed, beaches and ocean from toxic runoff," said Bass.

Trump has been critical of Newsom and handling of the wildfire. On Tuesday, he took note of a mythical "valve" which he claimed could funnel a limitless amount of water.

"They have a valve, think of a sink but multiply it by many thousands of times the size of it, it's massive," Trump said flanked by tech CEOs. "And you turn it back toward Los Angeles. Why aren't they doing it? They either have a death wish, they're stupid or there's something else going on that we don't understand."

On Monday, Newsom said he looks "forward to President Trump's visit to Los Angeles and his mobilization of the full weight of the federal government to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild," the governor wrote in a statement.

Photo credit: David Swanson via Getty Images

After almost two weeks of nonstop wildfires in California, officials in Los Angeles have recently reported that there is finally a sign of progress with the Palisades fire now at 52% percent containment, and the Eaton fire at 82% percent containment. After two weeks of devastation, this news brings subtle relief to the surrounding communities.

The initial flames were reported by the residents of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, near the Skull Rock Trailhead in Topanga State Park, located in the cliffs and canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains early on January 7th.

According to officials with California State Parks, the fires in the Santa Monica Mountains had a high chance of spreading through steep mountain canyons due to the Santa Ana winds. These hot and dry winds move through the region every fall and winter and are caused by high pressure that grows warmer, dryer, and stronger. When Santa Ana winds occur, fires can spread rapidly and widely across the Santa Monica Mountains, reaching nearby neighborhoods and destroying homes.

According to the New York Times, “There had been no serious precipitation in months, and forecasters cautioned [beforehand] that the Santa Ana winds coming in off the desert could reach an astonishing 100 miles per hour as they blew through the dry, brushy hills.”

Both fires occurred due to these winds within hours apart on the same day.

Max Belin, a nearby resident, claimed to have noticed an “explosion of bright light” at the base of an electrical tower up in the dry slopes of Eaton Canyon.

Several other people within the neighborhood had also claimed to see a fire near the power structures, stirring the question of whether or not the electrical base had any direct role in sparking the fire.

However, wildfire and arson experts reported to CNN this past Thursday, that it could take several months to determine the origin of precisely where and how both fires started.

Although the exact cause of the fires remains unclear, the traumatic impact on California residents is not short of a secret. During the fight, firefighters ran into issues with their water supply. Authorities noticed that the water pressure was faltering due to the massive amount of water being pulled out of the systems leaving hydrants running dry. This left residents who did not evacuate hopeless against the flames.

Camille Bragg, a California resident who lost her home in the fires, stated in a FOX interview, “The moment we realized that everything was potentially on fire was that morning around 6:30 a.m., and everything was on fire. My neighbors’ homes were on fire.”

At least 27 people have been reported dead. Those deceased consist of residents who fought desperately to protect their homes and residents who were not able to evacuate in time. However, since the fires continue to destroy neighborhoods, the death toll is steadily rising as first responders and authorities continue to search and rescue.

Approximately 200,000 California residents have been forced to evacuate their homes while evacuation mandates are still in effect as firefighters continue to contain the deadly wildfires. NBC reports that an estimated 13,600 structures, including homes, businesses, and personal properties, have been destroyed over this period.

As the winds have settled down in California, firefighters will continue to progress towards containment. It is predicted that Los Angeles residents will have to remain out of the affected areas for another week for authorities to declare that it is safe for damage inspections.

Officials are staying aware as more heavy Santa Ana winds come in within the next week.

Southern California will continue to face "dangerous fire weather conditions" including strong Santa Ana winds and extremely low humidity through later this week, forecasters said Tuesday.

By 10 a.m. Tuesday, a relatively rare weather advisory known as a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" (PDS) Red Flag Warning had ended, an advisory typically issued just once every few years by the National Weather Service — when the risk of wildfires sparking and spreading is especially high. While that warning is over, forecasters say fire risks remain in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

"The Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning has ended, but dangerous fire weather conditions will persist through Thursday or Friday," the National Weather Service (NWS) said just before 10 a.m., adding that "moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds" are expected over much of LA and Ventura counties Tuesday.

Those winds — the dry seasonal gusts of Southern California that usually come in the fall and can fuel destructive wildfires — are expected to weaken Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, according to forecasters. However, forecasters say they will stay strong and gusty over the mountains and hills before another round of widespread gusty winds later this week.

A regular Red Flag Warning is in effect through 10 p.m. Tuesday while a Fire Weather Watch — which forecasters can issue further in advance than Red Flag Warnings — is expected to stay in effect through Thursday evening.

Much of the San Fernando Valley, Ventura County beaches and valleys, the Malibu coast, Calabasas, Santa Clarita Valley, western Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains and western San Gabriel Mountains are among the areas affected.

According to NWS Los Angeles, the second cycle of Santa Ana winds this week is forecasted to pick up as early as Wednesday afternoon before peaking Wednesday night into Thursday. Forecasters are also predicting extremely low humidity, with minimum levels of under 10% over much of the area. According to NWS, the risk of wildfires comes with humidity levels of 15% and below.

The PDS warning that expired Tuesday morning is the same dire weather advisory that was in effect when the deadly, devastating Palisades and Eaton fires sparked on opposite sides of Los Angeles County earlier this month. Gusts reached up to 100 mph in some parts of Southern California at the time, powerful winds fueling the spread of the wildfires as they quickly exploded in size.

Last November, the National Weather Service announced its first PDS Red Flag warning since 2020, just before the nearly 20,000-acre Mountain Fire broke out in Ventura County, destroying neighborhoods of homes and and injuring at least six people.

While this week's PDS warning for LA and Ventura counties is now expired, weather conditions bringing wildfire risks are still firmly in the forecast. However, the National Weather Service has not yet released another advisory for later in the week.

"High confidence in widespread Red Flag Warning conditions Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening, but still deciding how to handle the lull for many areas tonight into Wednesday morning," NWS said Tuesday.

For the now-expired PDS warning, forecasters had warned of "powerful and damaging" Santa Ana winds, saying gusts could reach up to 50 to 70 mph in some areas and up to 100 mph in other parts of the region.

However, by early Tuesday, the National Weather Service released a list of gust speeds seen over the last day — none of them reaching the peak levels that had been predicted. The strongest gusts recorded were in the western Santa Monica Mountains, where they reached 57 mph around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, and 62 mph near Six Flags Magic Mountain in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Marissa Wenzke

Marissa Wenzke is a journalist based in Los Angeles. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from UC Santa Barbara and is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School.

Although Santa Ana winds have weakened, Ken Clark has warned they are expected to continue. The fire risk at Southern California remains with lingering dry weather as of Jan. 21.

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00:00Unfortunately, Ken, you know, over the last couple of years, Ken, I think we really got

00:05lucky that we weren't dealing with many Santa Ana winds.

00:11Now that caused problems too, but we didn't have much of a fire situation, but certainly

00:16things have changed this year as we've seen Santa Ana wind, Santa Ana wind, Santa Ana

00:21wind event, event, and event time and time again.

00:25And we're still dealing with some winds here this morning with a high fire danger.

00:30We have a high fire danger now, it's going to stay with it probably right on through

00:33Thursday at this point, maybe Friday morning as well.

00:35Then a big change, but that in a bit.

00:40We're not seeing the 70, 80 mile per hour winds we saw yesterday into last night.

00:46That's down quite a bit from yesterday and last night, and we are expecting winds to

00:54Not that there won't be some pretty good breezes still, especially in the mountains and the

00:57higher valleys, but it will not be as windy as it has been.

01:01You know, Ken, I called this up this morning and to me this was stunning.

01:06They'll see these dew point temperatures in Avalon, the island of Avalon, 12 degree dew

01:13Ken, do you remember a time you've seen these dew points this low?

01:17It's been a while, that's for certain.

01:19And I got an even better one than that.

01:21Mountain sensor in the St. Gabriel mountains this morning, the dew point is negative minus

01:30And you know, it's interesting because we don't have a long term drought going in California.

01:34We talked about this, that in the long term, there would be no drought in California through

01:40the winter of 2025 and even into 2026.

01:44But in the short term, it hasn't rained in a while.

01:47And unfortunately, with all this cold, they're dumping into the east.

01:51These little impulses come down from the north, what we call those inside sliders.

01:58Now, we don't have anything like that Wednesday, Thursday, but with the high pressure building

02:05Yeah, winds are going to come back up some again as we get into Wednesday, especially

02:09Wednesday night into Thursday, maybe by the morning.

02:13Nothing like we just saw, but it will continue the fire danger in California.

02:17Really quickly, Ken, and we don't have much time here.

02:21But this upper low coming, well, I have the wrong graphic.

02:25We do have a pattern change coming for the weekend.

02:30Showers this weekend, especially Saturday and Sunday, lower snow levels, colder temperatures.

02:36California expert Ken Clark, thanks for joining us here on AccuWeather Early.