Hot, Dry Weather Plus Chance Of Dry Lightning Elevates Fire Danger

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The National Weather Service predicted high winds, high temperatures, low humidity, and exceedingly dry vegetation would elevate fire danger in Southern California again Friday.

The strongest winds will produce gusts of between 25 and 30 miles per hour in the Santa Clarita Valley, where firefighters are still working to put out the deadly Sand Fire. Winds of 25 to 35 mph were expected in the San Gabriel Mountains, 40-50 mph in the Antelope Valley, and the humidity level will be between 10 and 25 percent, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures are forecast to be 91 in the mountains, 103 in the Santa Clarita Valley and 109 in the Antelope Valley.

The vegetation that could provide fuel for any new wildfire is very dry because of the region's drought.

"The potential for rapid growth and extreme fire behavior will continue for existing fires and for any new fire that occurs," warned an NWS statement. "Extreme caution is advised in all activities that take place in or near brushy areas."

Over the weekend, monsoonal moisture will slide into the area from the southeast, creating a slight chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms across the Antelope Valley and the San Gabriel Mountains in L.A. and Ventura counties, the statement said.

Through Sunday, forecasters say there will be a risk of dry lightning accompanying any thunderstorm because of limited moisture. As moisture increases on Monday, so will the chance of rain, according to the NWS, especially in the mountains of Riverside County.

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms over the mountains is in Friday's forecast amid hot weather, and the downpours may move into to the Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters said weakening high pressure combined with increased monsoonal moisture would bring "increasing chances for afternoon and early evening showers and thunderstorms, mainly for the mountains and deserts" through early next week. The risk of flash flooding is expected to increase Sunday and Monday.

In the forecast for Friday are highs of 100 to 105 degrees in the valleys around Riverside, 96 to 103 degrees in the mountains, 110 to 115 degrees along the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning and 109 to 114 degrees in the Coachella Valley.

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