LA fires latest updates: Deadly wildfires rage across LA as fierce winds threaten more destruction

Helen Willetts
BBC Weather

A red flag warning – which means critical fire conditions – remains in place into Friday across Los Angeles and Southern California.

This is due to strong Santa Ana winds, together with very low
humidity and temperatures a few degrees above average. Plus, southern California
is in severe drought at the moment, having had little rain so far this winter.

But it’s a constantly changing situation and these warnings are being frequently updated by the US National Weather Service, external, where you can keep up to date.

The winds are now strengthening again in the area. The strongest are expected across the mountains and through the
valleys with damaging gusts reaching up to 75mph (121km/h). More generally, there will be moderate to strong gusty winds, with gusts around 40 to 50mph.

This means it is an extremely dangerous situation as, with such dry vegetation and the gustiness of the winds, fires can develop
and spread rapidly.

The winds are forecast to ease a little through Friday
afternoon, but there’ll still be a moderate breeze gusting to 40mph. There’s no
sign of any rain, so conditions remain dangerous throughout Friday afternoon
and evening.

Warnings remain into Saturday despite some easing of the
wind.

However, the winds are expected to strengthen again on Sunday and early next week, with no rain in the forecast.