Dry Santa Ana winds are expected to develop this afternoon, followed by a warmer sunny weekend.
This evening, Santa Ana winds are expected to develop, with gusts of wind that could fall within the 35-45 mph range.
For Metro Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Orange County, and Eastern Ventura County, a wind advisory is in place. Meanwhile, high wind warnings alert Antelope Valley and most mountain areas through Thursday evening, with wind gusts expected to reach 50 to 65 mph.
But the National Weather Service expects these winds to come to a head by Friday and Saturday.
This weekend’s temperatures are predicted to be warmer and sunny, with generally less wind.
But for now, Angelenos should be aware of gusty winds that could blow around unsecured objects, blown tree limbs, and possibly a few power outages. With recent rain, saturated soil will increase the risk of downed trees, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Santa Ana winds can stir up fine dust particles, pollen, and other particulate matter as well, worsening air quality. These dry winds could also trigger dryness within the eyes, nose and throat areas, so hydration is key – according to SHARP Health.
Luckily, due to recent rainfall, fire damage is not present with these Santa Ana winds, as per the NWS.