los angeles — A fall heatwave coupled with gusty winds has raised the risk of wildfires in Southern California starting Tuesday, with forecasters warning that grass and brush remain dangerously dry though. Recent rains.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for increased fire danger in mountainous and foothill areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Wednesday evening.
The area is notorious Santa Ana winds Winds could reach 45 mph (72 km/h) at elevation, with slightly lower speeds across valleys, said Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist at the NWS office in Los Angeles.
Santa Anse is typical for this time of year, but forecast temperatures in the low 90s (34 degrees Celsius) will be hotter than normal in late October, with some record highs possible, Schoenfeld said.
Moisture from rainstorms two weeks ago has had time to mostly dissipate, Schoenfeld said. “The rain certainly didn’t cause any damage, but the fuel is still very flammable,” she said.
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services ordered the advance deployment of personnel, fire trucks, water drop planes and other resources to be ready in the event of fires.
while Forest fires in January Fires in Los Angeles have been among the most destructive in California’s history, and the state overall saw fewer acres burned in 2025 than in previous years.
So far this year, fires have burned through 815 square miles (2,110 square kilometers) statewide, compared to a late October average of about 2,030 square miles (5,257 square kilometers), according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
After a relatively quiet summer, fire weather is expected to intensify throughout the fall and winter, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Brent Pasqua said.
“It’s much calmer than it was on average,” Pasqua said. “But we cannot let our guard down. The risk is still high.”