Firefighters in Los Angeles are battling wildfires as strong winds may return, raising concerns for new outbreaks in the coming days
Meteorologists are warning that powerful winds might pick up again on Monday and last through Wednesday. This could lead to new fires, especially since Southern California is dealing with dry heat and no humidity.
One meteorologist, Stephanie van Oppen, mentioned that any wind event could be a serious risk since the area is still very dry. Plus, there’s no rain in sight for the next ten days.
This weekend, firefighters are taking advantage of a brief lull in the winds to tackle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have burned around 38,000 acres combined. They’re hoping to make significant progress before the weather changes again.
While one weather model predicts strong winds that could spark new fires, another suggests the winds might stay further east, which would be less of a threat.
Van Oppen pointed out that forecasts can change quickly. Just recently, they expected strong Santa Ana winds, but those didn’t materialize.
Firefighters are currently making headway, with about 55% of the Eaton fire contained and 22% of the Palisades Fire under control.
This weekend’s winds are expected to help, bringing in some much-needed humidity from the ocean. If they can increase containment now, it could really help if new fires break out next week.
