Arcadia Winds Return, Fire Threat Grows This Weekend

ARCADIA, CA — Strong winds and extremely dry vegetation bring the wildfire threat back to the Southland Friday, but not nearly as severe as threats from early this week, the National Weather Service said.

A fire weather watch was upgraded to a red flag warning of extreme fire danger, in effect from 3 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday.

"Northeasterly winds will increase on Friday then slowly weaken Saturday and Sunday," according to the NWS. "Wind gusts between 30 and 45 mph are expected over Los Angeles and Ventura counties during the Friday peak. Minimum humidities generally between 10 and 15 percent at lower elevations are expected."
Humidity levels are expected to increase over the weekend, leading to "elevated" fire conditions on Saturday, but not up to red flag levels, according to the NWS.

The red flag warning will be in effect for the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, Los Angeles County mountains, Angeles National Forest, Santa Clarita and San Gabriel valleys, San Fernando Valley and the metro Los Angeles and coastal areas.

As of midday, there was no warning issued for the Antelope Valley -- the one L.A. County region for which no red flag warning was issued earlier this week.

Forecasters said winds of between 15 and 30 mph would blow though mountain areas and gust at 45 mph amid humidity levels of 10-20 percent, while wind speeds of 10-25 mph were expected in valley, coastal and urban areas with 35-mph gusts.

"If fire ignition occurs, conditions may be favorable for extreme fire behavior, which would threaten life and property," according to the NWS.

The red flag warning will also be in force from 3 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday throughout Orange County.

Forecasters said weak offshore flow will course through the county Friday, generating gusts of around 45 mph, and weaken on Saturday. Humidity levels are forecast to be 15 percent Friday.

The NWS forecast sunny skies in L.A. County Thursday and highs of 67 on Mount Wilson; 77 in Avalon; 78 in Palmdale; 79 in Lancaster 81 at LAX; 82 in Saugus; 83 in Long Beach and San Gabriel; 84 in downtown L.A; 86 in Burbank and Pasadena; and 87 in Woodland Hills. Friday's highs will be four degrees higher in several communities.

Sunny skies were also forecast in Orange County Thursday, along with highs of 64 on Santiago Peak; 73 in San Clemente; 76 in Laguna Beach; 77 at 2600 feet on Ortega Highway; 79 in Newport Beach; 83 at Fremont Canyon; 85 in Anaheim, Irvine and Trabuco Canyon; 86 in Fullerton and Mission Viejo; and 88 in Yorba Linda. Friday's temperatures will be similar, though four degrees higher in Irvine.

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4-day Forecast for Arcadia

Today, clear throughout the day.

Friday October 19

Clear throughout the day. High 90, low 64.
Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 9 mph from the NE

Saturday October 20

Clear throughout the day. High 90, low 66.
Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 5 mph from the SE

Sunday October 21

Partly cloudy overnight. High 86, low 65.
Chance of precipitation: 1%. Wind 1 mph from the NNE

Monday October 22

Clear throughout the day. High 85, low 60.
Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 1 mph from the NNE
Data provided by darksky.net.