Winds Are Expected to Decrease Today

They’re back. The winds that whip through back yards and put ripples on Southern California swimming pools are back for a visit.

But these distant cousins of the 50-m.p.h. winds that pushed flames across acre after acre last month don’t even deserve to be called Santa Anas, said Nick Leivers, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Wednesday’s winds, recorded at about 15 m.p.h. in Van Nuys and only 8 m.p.h. in Burbank, are no cause for concern.

“There’s nothing to worry about . . . ,” Leivers said Wednesday.

At this time, no cold air is aloft over desert areas--a main ingredient in cooking up Santa Anas, Leivers said. Santa Anas are born when cold air pushes down on high pressure systems close to the surface, sending winds shooting through canyons and passes.

“We’re getting the local north, northeast winds, but they’re not as strong, not as severe,” Leivers said. “They’re very insignificant in comparison to what we experienced last month.”

The winds are expected to decrease today and “Friday they’ll be nonexistent,” Leivers said. The winds might pick up again Saturday and Sunday, but so far, the weather service predicts nothing dangerous.

The gusts haven’t raised great concern at the Los Angeles County Fire Department, where no fire warnings or alerts have been issued, said Fire Inspector Brian Jordan.

The Fire Department waits to be told by the National Weather Service when conditions--high winds, low humidity--are dangerous enough to warrant a Red Flag Alert.

Though no alerts have been issued, Jordan admonished residents firing up holiday lights and hearths to be careful just the same.

“They could spread a fire, just not as fast,” Jordan said. “Please be careful with your fireplaces.”