A dangerous windstorm is forecasted to hit Southern California on Tuesday, bringing potential widespread destruction and extreme fire risk to the region. The National Weather Service issued a critical fire risk alert for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, with wind speeds expected to exceed 60 mph and gusts reaching up to 80-100 mph in mountainous areas. California Governor Gavin Newsom has preemptively mobilized state resources, including firefighting equipment and personnel, in preparation for the storm.
The National Weather Service has warned residents to stay indoors and away from windows during the storm, as it poses a particularly dangerous situation in terms of fire weather. The City of Los Angeles has also issued warnings of a potentially life-threatening windstorm that could down trees and cut power connections. Fire-prone areas such as the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood Hills are advised to be ready to evacuate.
The dry Santa Ana winds, combined with low humidity, have created perfect conditions for wildfires to spread rapidly. Energy company San Diego Gas & Energy may turn off power to nearly 65,000 customers as a precaution. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has closed all schools in Malibu on Tuesday due to safety concerns, while the Los Angeles Unified School District has limited outdoor activities for students in areas expected to be impacted by high winds.
Experts note that the current dry conditions following a wet season have heightened the fire risk, with the potential for rapid spread of wildfires during the upcoming windstorm.
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