‘Extreme Fire Weather’: Authorities Warn Of More High Winds As L.A.-Area Fires Rage Into Week 2

More Santa Ana winds are forecast to hit parts of Los Angeles County and wide swaths of Ventura County, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a “particularly dangerous situation” red flag warning lasting from 4 a.m. on Tuesday until noon on Wednesday.

The winds could range between 45 and 75 mph, threatening to ground important firefighting aircraft as the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst Fires continue to burn. The National Weather Service Los Angeles has only issued the “particularly dangerous situation” red flag warning a few times in the past — twice in 2020 and not again until 2024, and now, 2025, The Los Angeles Times reported.

National Weather Service meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld said the warning “is one of the loudest ways that we can shout,” adding, “This is a continued extreme fire weather and wind scenario.” The high wind gusts combined with humidity as low as 5% on Tuesday makes for an especially dangerous situation, and the weather service told Los Angeles County and Ventura County residents to avoid doing “anything that could spark a fire.” The Santa Ana winds could also further stoke the fires that have already ripped through more than 40,000 acres and killed at least 24 people in Southern California.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has already prepared for the intense winds. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said on Sunday, “I want to reassure you that your LAFD, all of our regional partners, every single agency that has come from up and down this state and outside of the state — we are ready.”

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The L.A. Times reported that preparations for the high winds include reinforcing fire control lines, clearing brush away from buildings that survived the fires, and setting up staging areas where new fires could break out. L.A. County Fire Battalion Chief Christian Litz added, “If [aircraft] get grounded, we have actually built ourselves a little bit of barrier in time for crews to get in there.”

Cal Fire spokesman Gerry Magana said, “Usually, the limiting factor is gusts over 30 miles an hour, but the sustained winds – anything over 40 (mph) – is pretty much going to ground most aircraft.”

In a social media post on Sunday night, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote, “Emergency responders are ready tonight. Pre-positioned firefighters and engines are spread around Southern California. Stay safe. Be ready to evacuate if you get the order.”

According to the L.A. County Medical Examiner, 16 people died in the Eaton Fire and eight in the Palisades Fire. More than a dozen people are still missing. The latest data from Cal Fire shows that the Palisades Fire is at 14% containment, the Eaton Fire is at 33% containment, and the Hurst Fire is at 95% containment.

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