A change in weather patterns will bring the possibility of damaging winds, cooler temperatures and potentially some rain to Southern California, while also increasing the fire risk for the region in the coming days.
It could certainly blow away people’s Halloween decorations, said Bryan Lewis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles. More seriously, he said, the winds could be destructive, knocking down power lines and tree limbs and making it difficult to drive taller vehicles.
The storm system is expected to be slightly stronger than one a week ago that brought winds reaching 40 miles per hour or more in some places, leading to some power outages across the region.
This time, there will be widespread north to northwest wind gusts between 35 and 60 m.p.h. and a 30 percent chance those winds could reach 60 or 70 m.p.h. in some of those more wind-prone areas, Mr. Lewis said.
Here is when the winds will be at their worst.
Santa Barbara will most likely experience its strongest winds Sunday into Monday.
Ventura County is expected to see its worst from Wednesday into Thursday.
Los Angeles County will not catch a break, and the strongest winds are expected to affect the county throughout the period.
The timing of when the winds will be strongest will be shaped by the storm’s movements. The winds will begin out of the northwest on Sunday before transitioning out of the northeast by the middle of the week. This subtle change will increase the risk of fire weather, as a more northeasterly direction will lower the humidity in the region, making the air more conducive to fire growth, potentially to a critical level.
Because the air dipping down with this system is on the colder side, it could help keep the fire weather at bay. There is even a slight chance of light showers or drizzle on Monday and Tuesday.
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