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By Jess Thomson
Science Reporter
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As deadly wildfires continue to scorch much of Los Angeles, fire weather warnings have been issued across much of Southern California over the coming days, including San Diego.
The blazes have claimed 24 lives, burned just under 40,000 acres across the city—including much of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood—and destroyed tens of thousands of structures, with three of the fires still burning.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a Red Flag Warning for fire is in place in Los Angeles, as well as across the San Diego area, where wind gusts are forecast to be as high as 55mph forecast in the coming days.
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In Los Angeles, winds may reach up to 70 mph.
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The fires are in large part being exacerbated by the strong Santa Ana winds, which have fanned the flames and rapidly spread them, allowing them to consume the dry vegetation around Los Angeles.
"A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior," the NWS said in a statement.
"If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for very rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior."
The Palisades fire, which has been alight since January 7, has now burned 23,713 acres–making it the most destructive blaze in the city's history.
The fire is only 13 percent contained; firefighters are still battling the blaze, and eight of the 24 dead were found in the Palisades fire zone.
Among the houses destroyed were the homes of a number of high-profile celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and Adam Brody and Leighton Meester.
The other 16 dead were recovered from the region of the Eaton fire, which has burned 14,117 acres near Altadena and is only 27 percent contained. The third fire is the Hurst fire, which is 799 acres in size and 89 percent contained.
"Firefighters have been working around the clock with a continued focus on fire suppression, human safety and private and public property assessment and protection," CAL FIRE said of the Palisades fire in a statement.
"For tonight, gusty Santa Ana winds will continue with low humidity with the strongest winds occurring Tuesday morning. A Red Flag Warning is in effect and will remain in effect till 6:00PM Wednesday."
"This will be a time period of locally damaging winds with extremely critical fire weather conditions," the NWS said of Los Angeles. "This is a particularly dangerous situation (PDS) for portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties."
These fires come as 2024 has been announced to be the hottest year on record, with global temperatures hitting 2.32 degrees F above the 20th-century average, and 0.18 degrees F warmer than 2023, the previous warmest year on record.
"Fire frequency and severity has increased largely due to climate change in many other regions of the world," Stefan Doerr, director of the Centre for Wildfire Research at Swansea University, told Newsweek.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about wildfires? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
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