Heat and a chance of thunderstorms: A look at LA’s elevated fire risk this week

A chance of dry lightning and thunderstorms could increase fire risk across the region as this week’s heat lingers, according to the National Weather Service.

The Antelope and Cuyama valleys could see temperatures as high as 106 degrees. Tuesday and Wednesday will be the hottest period for most of Southern California. The L.A. County Department of Public Health also issued a Heat Advisory through Thursday for valleys and mountain communities. The advisory is issued when hot weather may cause heat-related illness for some people.

To top it off, meteorologists say there will also be increased humidity.

What does the fire risk look like?

The National Weather Service says there will be fire risk through Sunday across L.A. County.

Devin Black, a meteorologist at the agency, said possible fires might have higher potential to grow due to south and southwest winds blowing as high as 40 mph.

The risk is highest in the L.A. County Mountains and Antelope Valley.

Is there a chance of storms, too?

There’s a 5% to 15% chance of thunderstorms, according to NWS. Those storms might bring dry lightning and erratic winds across the eastern San Gabriel Mountains and Antelope Valley tonight, which Black said increases fire risk.

What about conditions near the warehouse fire?

Black emphasized that the possibility of erratic winds can only happen if there is a storm this afternoon. If they do, the winds might make the smoke near the warehouse fire blow in another direction and spread to other areas. A particle pollution advisory was extended to Wednesday by air quality officials for the Los Angeles area.