LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Much of Los Angeles County and Orange counties are under a red-flag warning today thanks to anticipated gusty winds and low humidity levels raising the possibility of dangerous wildfires.
The red-flag warnings are also in effect in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obsipo counties, lasting through 10 p.m. Tuesday.
A wind advisory was in effect until noon in L.A. County. Gusts were expected to reach 60 mph in the mountains and 55 mph in the Santa Clarita Valley in the morning before weakening into the afternoon.
Humidity was forecast at 5 to 10 percent Tuesday.
“While winds will weaken late Tuesday through Wednesday, they will remain locally breezy with gusts between 20 and 35 mph in the windier locations especially Tuesday night. Humidities will stay very low through Wednesday, resulting in elevated to near critical conditions,'' the National Weather Service said. “The threat for gusty northeast winds and additional red-flag warnings is decreasing for Thursday through Saturday.
The weather service said no rain is expected for at least the next 10 days.
Southern California Edison shut off electricity for thousands of customers as a precaution against downed power lines sparking a fire. As of Tuesday morning, 11,990 customers in Los Angeles County and five in Orange County had their power cut, while another 37,208 customers in Los Angeles County and 13,119 in Orange County were under consideration for the co-called “public safety power shutoffs.''
Photo: Getty Images