Southern California Faces Dangerous Santa Ana Winds

Southern California is bracing for a significant Santa Ana wind event, with gusts expected to reach up to 80 mph, prompting red flag warnings for over 10 million residents from December 9 to 11, 2024. Authorities have highlighted the risk of wildfires due to low humidity levels, which may fall to as low as 5%, and critical wildfire conditions are anticipated across multiple counties, including Ventura, Los Angeles, and Riverside. The National Weather Service has warned that these conditions mimic previous severe fire events, raising alarms about potential downed power lines igniting new fires. Preventative power outages are being implemented by Southern California Edison, impacting tens of thousands of customers to mitigate fire risks. Officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and take precautions as the situation could worsen Monday night into Tuesday before improvements are expected by Wednesday. The current conditions illustrate the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region, exacerbated by climate change.