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Temperatures will be slightly cooler this week, but the wind will pick up, causing fire risk
After record-setting heat throughout Southern California over the weekend, Labor Day provided a slight reprieve, which should continue early this week, though temperatures will remain in the mid-to-high-90s in some areas — and the specter of Santa Ana winds picking up could worsen fire conditions.
In Los Angeles County, the weather was tempered Monday, Sept. 7, by a marine layer and wildfire smoke from fires burning in the Angeles National Forest and San Bernardino Mountains, according to the National Weather Service. Huntington Beach saw a high of 76 degrees and Anaheim hit 83. Hermosa Beach was around there too, with a high of 81 degrees.
San Bernardino and Riverside where both in the low-90s — significantly cooler than the weekend’s triple digits.
In some areas, Monday temperatures were as much as 30 degrees cooler, the NWS said.
Tuesday was expected to bring cooler temperatures still, though the Santa Ana winds will peak in strength Tuesday night and into Wednesday, which will once again bring hot weather to the coast and valleys, the Weather Service said.
Much of the region’s coastline will see temperatures in the mid-70s to mid-80s throughout the week. Riverside and San Bernardino, though, will remain in the high-90s throughout the week, the NWS said — and hit triple digits a couple of days.
The inland parts of LA and Orange counties, meanwhile, will largely stay in the 90s, though expected highs range from 83 in Pasadena on Wednesday and 96 in Fullerton.
The winds, meanwhile, could pose a bigger problem.
The NWS also issued a wind advisory through 3 p.m. Wednesday, with northeast winds from 20 to 30 miles per hour — and gusts up to 50 miles per hour — in the Santa Monica Mountains, and Santa Clarita, San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. LA County’s coast could also see winds around 15-25 miles per hour, with gusts up to 35 mph.
Critical fire danger warnings were in effect through Wednesday because of the hot, dry and windy conditions.
Hot and dry conditions already sparked wildfires in the Angeles National Forest and in San Bernardino County. Ash landed as far away as LA’s beach cities, with residents in Redondo Beach, Torrance and elsewhere waking Monday morning to to find vehicles littered with tiny white specks.
The Bobcat Fire, in the Angeles National Forest, had grown to nearly 5,000 acres by midday Monday.
More than 20,000 people were evacuated due to the El Dorado fire in Yucaipa, which had burned 8,600 acres in the San Bernardino Mountains by midday Monday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Both fires led the South Coast Air Quality Management Agency to issue smoke alerts on Monday.
“It is difficult to tell where smoke, ash or soot from a fire will go, or how winds will affect the level of these particles in the air, so we ask everyone to remember that smoke and ash can be harmful to health, even for people who are healthy,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, L.A. County Health Officer.
The weekend heat also stressed the power grid.
California power generators were expected to provide enough electricity Monday to meet demand despite a flex alert meant to urge conservation.
Southern California Edison and the LA Department of Water and Power did report power outages throughout the region on Sunday and Monday, though mostly related to repairs and not associated with any rolling blackouts.
California Independent System Operator, which represents power generators, reported Monday that resources lost to high heat and wildlifes on Sunday were restored and sufficient energy supply was anticipated despite a continued heat wave.
“The grid operator declared the emergency when a transmission line from Oregon reduced capacity by 900 megawatts (MW) due to the heat,” California ISO put out in a statement Monday. “At the same time, generation totaling 260 megawatts (MW) tripped offline. Conservation helped grid operators overcome those challenges and avoid rotating power outages.”
Conservation steps include turning up thermostats to 78 degrees, avoiding large appliances, closing drapes, turning off unnecessary lights and using fans.
The #heatwave is still putting pressure on the state’s energy grid. #FlexAlert is in effect 3-9pm today. Conservation measures include:
•Set A/C thermostats to 78 degrees
•Avoid using large appliances
•Close drapes/blinds
•Turn off unnecessary lights
•Use fans— California ISO (@California_ISO) September 7, 2020
City News Service contributed to this report.