LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A week-long autumn heat wave is expected to intensify today, with the temperature reaching 96 degrees in downtown Los Angeles and well into the 90s in much of the Southland.
High winds were expected Tuesday morning in the mountains and the Santa Clarita Valley, where winds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph, were forecast. Wind advisories for those areas were set to expire at noon.
A high of 96 was forecast for downtown Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Pasadena and Van Nuys, according to the National Weather Service. It will be 97 in Woodland Hills and 86 in Lancaster.
In Orange County, it was expected to reach 97 in Anaheim, 96 in Irvine, 83 in Laguna Beach and 99 in Mission Viejo.
The hot temps, combined with high winds and low humidity, are creating dangerous fire conditions in the mountain areas of the Southland. Firefighters are still battling the 8,800-acre Saddleridge Fire in the northern San Fernando Valley, which was 92% contained Tuesday.
After a break Wednesday, the Santa Ana winds are expected to get worse later in the week, with a red-flag warning for extreme fire danger on Thursday and Friday, according to the NWS.
The hot temperatures are expected to continue Wednesday, with highs reaching 80 at the beaches and in the 90s inland and in the valleys.
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