Wildfire risk spikes with high temps as winds whip up in Southern California

LOS ANGELES– A fall heatwave accompanied by gusty winds increased the risk of wildfires in Southern California starting Tuesday, with forecasters warning that grass and brush are still dangerously dry despite recent rains.

The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for increased fire risk in mountain and foothill areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Wednesday evening.

The region’s notorious Santa Ana winds could bring gusts of up to 45 mph aloft, with slightly lower speeds in the valleys, said Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist with the NWS Los Angeles office.

The Santa Anas are typical for this time of year, Schoenfeld said, but temperatures expected in the 90s (34 C) will be warmer than normal for late October, with record highs possible.

Schoenfeld said the moisture caused by torrential rains two weeks ago has had time to largely dissipate. “The rain certainly didn’t do any harm, but the fuels are still very flammable,” she said.

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services ordered the pre-deployment of personnel, fire trucks, water jets and other resources to be ready in case fires break out.

While the January wildfires in Los Angeles were among the most destructive in California history, overall the state saw fewer acres burned in 2025 than in previous years.

So far this year, fires have scorched 815 square miles (2,110 square km) statewide, compared to a late October average of about 2,030 square miles (5,257 square km), according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Brent Pascua said after a relatively quiet summer, fires are expected to intensify throughout the fall and winter.

“It’s a lot quieter than average,” Pascua said. “But we cannot let our guard down. The risk remains high.”