Feb. 11--Strong Santa Ana winds, with gusts topping 60 mph in some areas, are expected to elevate fire danger through Thursday in Southern California, forecasters say.
The weather event has prompted a high-wind warning, which expires at 2 p.m. Thursday, for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
Gusts of 40 mph are expected in coastal communities and 45 mph gusts in Valley communities, but forecasters said gusts up to 60 mph are possible in both counties.
The powerful winds should be felt mostly during mid-morning and afternoon hours.
Santa Ana winds are expected to increase Wednesday morning, and record high temperatures for February are possible. Those temperatures and fierce winds combined with low humidity add to a greater danger of fire.
Driving conditions also could be treacherous, especially for large trucks.
Overnight winds reached 40 mph in Warm Springs, the weather service reported. The strongest winds, however, were felt in Wiley Ridge, where gusts topped 42 mph.
