Fire Danger Elevated In Santa Monica As Santa Anas Blow Through

LOS ANGELES, CA — Santa Monica faces an elevated fire risk this week as another Santa Ana windstorm blows across the region.

Heavy wind gusts and low humidity will combine to create critical wildfire danger in the valleys and mountains of Los Angeles County and inland Orange County, the National Weather Service warned. The increased fire danger is expected to last into Saturday night.

"Gusty north to northeast winds for the next several nights and mornings will turn primarily northeasterly for the latter half of the week. Damaging Santa Ana winds are possible across the mountains between Thursday and Friday," the NWS said on Tuesday.

Gusts are expected to hit 40 to 50 mph in the valleys, and 50 to 55 mph in the mountains Wednesday and Thursday night.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.