The National Weather Service has issued a warning regarding a “life-threatening” and “destructive” windstorm in California’s Los Angeles and Ventura Counties this week.
In a Monday post on X, formerly Twitter, the National Weather Service Los Angeles said, “HEADS UP!!! A LIFE-THREATENING, DESTRUCTIVE, Widespread Windstorm is expected [Tuesday] afternoon-[Wednesday] morning across much of Ventura/LA Co. Areas not typically windy will be impacted… Stay indoors, away from windows, expect poweroutages.”
Santa Monica, Simi Valley, San Fernando, Pasadena, and Burbank were among the locations the National Weather Service listed as areas of “extreme risk” and “of greatest concern.” Residents were warned to “take immediate action.”
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The Los Angeles Department of Transportation released a weather advisory on Monday, noting that a “severe windstorm” was expected in Los Angeles from 10 a.m. Tuesday morning to sometime on Wednesday afternoon.
“Traveling may be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Remain in lower levels of your home and away from windows. Use caution if you must drive,” the department tweeted. “Report downed trees to 311 and downed power lines to 911. Sign up for emergency alerts at NotifyLA.org.”
The Los Angeles Fire Department also announced on Monday that the city had issued a “Red Flag Alert” alongside “special Red Flag Parking Restrictions” that would take effect at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
“It is important that fire apparatus have room to respond quickly to a fast-moving brush fire while simultaneously allowing residents to evacuate, if necessary,” the Los Angeles Fire Department stated. “For this reason, special parking restrictions may exist on certain narrow streets in brush areas only during ‘Red Flag Alert’ conditions.”
The National Weather Service Los Angeles reported that potential impacts caused by the massive windstorm could include lengthy power outages, downed trees, a “dangerous fire weather situation,” dangerous sea conditions, airport delays, and “knocked over” big rigs, trailers, and motorhomes. The National Weather Service also noted that wind gusts of between 50 and 80 miles per hour and “isolated gusts” of 80 to 100 miles per hour were possible.
The National Weather Service Los Angeles warned that this week’s windstorm could be the “strongest event” since the 2011 windstorm in Pasadena.
“Pasadena was specifically hit hard then, & we are seeing a similar weather pattern to back then,” the National Weather Service tweeted. “However instead of just Pasadena, the impacts could happen anywhere esp. in the outlined area from this mornings post.”
