It could be a rough Thanksgiving in Los Angeles, as parts of Southern California are facing critical fire weather conditions over the next few days. The National Weather Service warns that the Santa Ana winds will kick up in full force in the Los Angeles area, bringing high fire risk, possible power shutoffs, and risky driving conditions as people gather for the holiday.
The Santa Ana winds are a local celebrity. The pressure difference between the Great Basin to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west causes these dry winds to blow out of the desert. California is between the tug-of-war. The winds can drive people to do crazy things, but they can also cause dangerous fires in Southern California.
Extra-dry conditions combined with high gusts are creating some worrying conditions. The National Weather Service Los Angeles forecasts wind gusts between 35 and 55 mph, with isolated gusts between 60 and 70 mph at higher altitudes. The office says the winds will be strongest Wednesday through Thursday.
The low humidity will keep the temperature in the single digits through Friday. Red flag warnings are issued by the NWS to alert people to fire risk and are in place for 18 million people.
The NWS Los Angeles wrote that this is a critical period with multiple days of Red Flag conditions. The public needs to be careful with anything that could start a fire.
It means being careful on the roads where traffic can lead to an accident as well as anyone enjoying an outdoors Thanksgiving with a campfire. There is nothing to say about those who try to deep-fry a turkey without proper safety precautions. The risk of electrical equipment is so high that utilities are weighing shutoffs.
Southern California Edison said it will shut off power to 99,000 customers. San Diego Gas & Electric said it was considering shutoffs, which would affect 43,000 of its customers. The Thomas Fire, which killed two people and burned 281,893 acres, was sparked by high winds coming into contact with power lines. It was the largest fire in state history at the time, but has since been bumped down the list by the disastrous fire seasons.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the power is turned off around the holidays. We look at all those areas that are high fire risk to avoid the potential of wildfires, but we also understand the hardship that [shutoffs] place on our customers, so we're keeping a really close eye.
Climate change has made Southern California's wildfire season worse. Southern California is also losing its cloud cover due to the megadry that has gripped much of the West. The wildfire seasons are getting worse because of rising heat. Fire suppression and other policies have played a part in that trend.
The NWS is warning people to be alert for fires and to be careful when driving since winds can make travel difficult. It may be easy to bail on your in-laws during the holidays because of the nasty conditions. It is a reminder to stay safe, Californians!
