Low Humidity, Gusty Winds Bring Fire Concerns in Local Foothills, Mountains

Winds could gust up to 25 mph at times today and Wednesday in Pasadena and that coupled with low relative humidity numbers — in the 8 to 18 percent ranges to the L.A. County Mountains  —  has the National Weather Service forecasting the first strong Santa Ana event of the season.

Although Pasadena is not under a high-fire-danger “red flag warning,” but other parts of Los Angeles County, including local mountains, are.

“A combination of strong winds and low relative humidity can contribute to extreme fire behavior,” the NWS said Monday. “Use extreme caution with potential fire ignition sources.”

Earlier Monday, the NWS had issued a less severe fire weather watch. But the agency later upgraded its caution to the red flag level.

The NWS issued a wind advisory for Pasadena from 10 p.m. Tuesday through 7 p.m. Wednesday predicting Northeast winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, but 20 to 30 mph with isolated gusts of 40 to 50   mph in the foothills.

Here’s a detailed look at the forecast from the NWS:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 72. North northeast wind 5 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Breezy, with a northeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. North northeast wind around 10 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North northeast wind around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 71.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 71.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.