
Los Angeles residents are dealing with a trifecta of weather-related advisories, including an air quality alert due to elevated levels of particle pollution. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the region will experience patchy fog on MLK Day before it clears up, with temperatures hovering around 67 degrees. However, clearer skies aren't bringing relief to those with respiratory issues.
⚠️POWERFUL & DAMAGING SANTA ANA WINDSTORM INCOMING!!⚠️
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 19, 2025
Take action now to prepare your home and loved ones for another round of EXTREME WIND and FIRE WEATHER, staring tomorrow afternoon! Worst winds Mon afternoon - Tue morning. #CAwx #SantaAnaWinds pic.twitter.com/CuhRHgOTjF
In a warning issued late Sunday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District alerted residents of harmful levels of windblown dust and ash across the South Coast Air Basin from Monday morning to Tuesday evening. "Particle pollution can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems such as asthma attacks, heart and lung disease symptoms, and increased risk of respiratory infections," the NWS Air Quality Alert stated. Sensitive groups are at greater risk, and precautions including avoiding outdoor activity, keeping windows and doors closed, and running air purifiers are advised.
The week ahead also anticipates a significant climb in temperatures, with the NWS forecasting a sunny Tuesday and highs reaching near 71 degrees. By Wednesday, it will get even warmer at around 75, and Thursday's high could peak at 80 degrees. Nighttime lows throughout the week will be considerably cooler, fluctuating between the high 30s and mid-40s. But the calm is a prelude to a gustier narrative; there's a chance of rain beginning Friday night, signaling a shift that carries through the weekend with potential precipitation.
Add to that, the NWS Los Angeles took to social media to issue a stark warning of "POWERFUL & DAMAGING SANTA ANA WINDSTORM INCOMING!!" set to hit Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning. Residents are urged to prepare for extreme wind and fire weather, a reminder of the region's vulnerability to nature's unpredictability. The overlap of serene mornings, the lurking threat of the Santa Ana winds, and pending rain frames a weather mosaic that demands active vigilance from Los Angeles inhabitants.