Coming heat wave, winds prompt red flag warnings

Red flag warnings were issued Wednesday across Southern California as heat and dry winds were expected to turn Los Angeles and Ventura County mountains and valleys into a tinderbox.

The National Weather Service said the red flag warnings would be in effect through Thursday for the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the Santa Monica Mountains, the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys and Ventura County valleys, the L.A. Times reported.

Temperatures on Friday could rise past 100 degrees from Burbank to Pasadena, according to the weather service.

Wind advisories also were in effect for mountains across Southern California, with gusts expected up to 55 mph in the mountains and 45 mph in the valleys.

But the heat wave won’t last for long. On Saturday, daytime temperatures are expected to drop back down into the mid-80s in the tri-city area. And on Sunday, even cooler temperatures could accompany a 20% chance of rain, according to the National Weather Service.

-- Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times