With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
It’s Extreme Fire Weather Time. Are You Prepped and Ready to Leave?
The Thomas Fire advances toward Santa Barbara seaside communities on December 10, 2017 (David Mcnew/AFP via Getty Images)
Especially intense winds are creating a “particularly dangerous situation” that starts today, peaks Thursday and runs through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
***Fire Weather Update***
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) December 2, 2020
The strong NE winds today and Thu will weaken Fri into Sat, but very dry conds with Critical Fire Danger will persist through Fri/Sat and potentially into early next week! Please be extra vigilant w/any source of fire!! #CAwx #CAfire #SOCal pic.twitter.com/RemzHFYaZN
With estimated wind gusts of up to 65 miles per hour, humidity in the single digits, and critically dry vegetation that have yet to get much needed precipitation, the stage is set for a large, fast-moving fire.
Things are looking bad when it comes to wind-driven wildfire risk. We’ve now entered the peak of Santa Ana wind season – which will run through January – but until we get substantial moisture we’ll remain vulnerable.
Sponsored message
The red flag conditions are similar to those that brought on the Thomas Fire back in early December 2017, and burned all of the way into January, becoming one of California's largest wildfires on record.
If you live in an area prone to burning you should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
We’ve put together a brief guide of what you should do in advance of the high winds tonight.
READ MORE ABOUT WHAT TO PREP:
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
