Southern California Faces Extreme Fire Risk Under Rare 'Particularly Dangerous Situation' Warning

Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation are creating hazardous conditions, with evacuations and power outages already underway.

A rare 'Particularly Dangerous Situation' red flag warning is in effect for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, lasting through Tuesday afternoon.
Santa Ana winds are expected to reach gusts of 60-80 mph, with humidity levels dropping as low as 2%, creating conditions for rapid fire spread.
The Franklin Fire in Malibu has already grown to 2,200 acres, prompting evacuations and highlighting the risks of the current fire weather.
Utilities, including Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric, have warned over 350,000 customers of potential power shut-offs to prevent wildfires.
Meteorologists caution that these conditions could rival historic fires like the Mountain and Thomas Fires, with widespread damage and rapid flame spread possible.