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The Brief

The most important stories for you to know today
  • The L.A. Report
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  • Climate and Environment
    Fire weather returns
    Red flag warnings start Tuesday morning
    By  Gillian Morán Pérez
    Published January 6, 2025 8:29 AM

    Share This
    Gusty Santa Ana winds downed palm fronds at Louise Park in Lake Balboa. High winds blew through the Southland felling trees in some areas, prompting warnings of hazardous driving conditions and possible damage to power lines.
    Strong, damaging winds return to the Southland this week.
    (
    Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
    /
    Los Angeles Times
    )
    Quick Facts
      • Today’s weather: Warm, sunny
      • Beaches: mid 60s to low 70s
      • Mountains: 50s-60s
      • Inland: high 70s low 80s
      • Warnings and advisories: Red Flag warning, High Wind warnings, Fire weather watch

    What to expect: Today is the calm before the wind storm. Strong, damaging Santa Ana winds return to the Southland tomorrow, creating the high risk of wildfires.

    Mild temperatures: Expect another warm day on tap for SoCal today. Temperatures at the beaches will be in the upper 60s around Orange County beaches and around 70 degrees for L.A. County beaches. Downtown L.A. to Carson will see highs around 75 degrees. Meanwhile, inland Orange County will see highs in the low 70s.

    Quick Facts
      • Today’s weather: Warm, sunny
      • Beaches: mid 60s to low 70s
      • Mountains: 50s-60s
      • Inland: high 70s low 80s
      • Warnings and advisories: Red Flag warning, High Wind warnings, Fire weather watch

    Good morning and welcome to the first Monday of 2025. Strong and damaging Santa Ana winds are returning to Southern California tomorrow, which will increase the risk of extreme fire conditions.

    Daily forecast

    We can expect another warm day on tap for SoCal today.

    Temperatures at the beaches will be in the upper 60s around Orange County beaches and around 70 degrees for L.A. County beaches. Downtown L.A. to Carson will see highs around 75 degrees. Meanwhile, inland Orange County will see highs in the low 70s.

    L.A. County valleys will see highs in the upper 70s, while temperatures in the Inland Empire will reach the low 70s.

    Expect highs in the upper 60s for the high desert, and up to 77 degrees in Coachella Valley.

    Tonight's lows will drop to the upper 40s.

    Fire weather returns

    The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for parts of Southern California starting on Tuesday with strong winds between 55 mph to 80 mph possible for much of L.A. and Ventura counties.

    Forecasters say the winds will peak Tuesday through Wednesday afternoon, when humidity levels will drop significantly creating dangerous fire weather conditions.

    Residents near wildland areas should be prepared to evacuate in case a wildfire breaks out.

    The red flag warning is in effect from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 6 p.m. Friday.

    How to stay safe in high-risk areas
      • Back your car into your driveway and have your go bag in the car, ready to leave at a moment’s notice
      • If you get an emergency alert, follow the instructions given by emergency services. They’ll be coordinating evacuations, and will make efforts to keep roads from getting clogged
      • Consider leaving long before any fire breaks out. Smith said he knows people in Topanga that leave as soon as a red flag event starts

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