Weather Forecast for Thursday, Oct. 15
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LOS ANGELES -Dangerous weather conditions involving intense Santa Ana winds, unusually hot temperatures, and plummeting humidity levels have prompted widespread emergency activations and weather alerts across Southern California.
Public safety officials and meteorologists are warning residents to prepare for severe fire risks, power outages, and key road closures extending through Saturday.
Several weather alerts in effect
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued Red Flag Warnings for a large portion of Southern California, including Los Angeles County,running from 6 a.m. Thursday until 8 p.m. Saturday. Wind forecasts call for northeast winds of 20 to 40 mph with widespread gusts of 40 to 60 mph, while mountain areas could see localized gusts reaching 50 to 70 mph.
Heat advisories and wind advisories are active as high temperatures climb into the upper 80s and 90s and humidity drops between 5% and 15%, according to the NWS.
How city, county, and state officials are preparing
City and county public safety agencies have elevated their readiness. Los Angeles city and county fire departments increased staffing and pre-positioned ground and aerial reergency Operations Centers to manage agency actions
On Thursday, LAFD Chief Jaime Moore spoke with FOX 11. He assured residents the department has staffed up all of their fire engines.
“That includes our normal fire engines but also the 200 Series fire engines,” Chief Moore said. “We’ve done a recall, and we recalled all the members who were going off duty to stay on duty in anticipation for what could possibly happen,” he added.
Since the 2025 LA fires, Moore noted that LAFD has additional re
“These OES engines that you just mentioned, the Type-6 engines, those were newly acquired engines from the state of California,” he said. “We put out a request for additional rehese reif we could keep them, house them, and use them during these two days here in the City of Los Angeles.”
Governor Gavin Newsom directed Cal Fire and the California Office of Emergency Services to pre-position specialized equipment and personnel in high-risk zones.
To facilitate emergency responses, the Los Angeles Fire Department declared Red Flag street-parking restrictions in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones through at least 6 a.m. Saturday.
Transportation officials also instituted major road closures: Topanga Canyon Boulevard is restricted to residents only between Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Drive, Old Topanga Canyon Road is closed between Mulholland Highway and Topanga Canyon, and the County Department of Public Works closed Glendora Mountain Road and Glendora Ridge Road in the Angeles National Forest.
Topanga Canyon Blvd. closes amid red flag conditions
Due to the red flag warning of critical fire conditions, Topanga Canyon Boulevard will be closed to non-residents at 6 a.m. Thursday through 10 p.m. Friday between Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Drive in Malibu.
The critical conditions coincide with active fire incidents.
Early Thursday morning just before 7:30 a.m., 160 firefighters battled a major basement fire in a three-story East Hollywood apartment building at 560 N. Kingsley Dr. Smoke severely impacted the structure and compromised its first floor, resulting in the hospitalization of one woman and the displacement of residents, who received assistance from the American Red Cross and Metro buses.
LAFD battles apartment fire in East Hollywood
First-floor residents were evacuated due to dense smoke, and one woman was transported to a local hospital. The American Red Cross and MTA buses were dispatched to assist displaced residents.
Authorities have not finalized how many total Public Safety Power Shutoffs will be executed by Southern California Edison to mitigate fire risks. However, more than 89,400 customers in Los Angeles County are currently under consideration for potential safety shutoffs, alongside additional potential unplanned blackouts caused by wind-driven structural damage.
- Thursday, 6 a.m.: Red Flag Warnings, high wind warnings, LAFD Red Flag street-parking restrictions, and Topanga Canyon area road closures take effect.
- Thursday, 10 a.m.: Heat advisories go into effect across coastal and inland areas, including downtown Los Angeles, while the county Emergency Operations Center and Joint Information Center activate.
- Friday: Santa Ana winds reach peak intensity, driven by widespread temperatures in the 90s and gusts up to 70 mph in mountain passes.
- Saturday, 6 a.m.: Scheduled conclusion of LAFD Red Flag street-parking restrictions, subject to extension based on wind conditions.
- Saturday, 8 p.m.: Red Flag Warnings and heat advisories are scheduled to expire as winds diminish.
- Sunday: A regional cooling trend lowers coastal temperatures by 10 to 15 degrees, with closed Angeles National Forest mountain roads expected to reopen by Sunday afternoon.
Forecasters warned of the intense weather setup, stating, “The first Santa Ana event for the season is going to be a strong one.” The National Weather Service emphasized the immediate hazard, noting, “A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. Use extreme caution with anything that can spark a wildfire. Residents near wildland interfaces should be prepared to evacuate if a wildfire breaks out.”
Local and state officials urged residents to take precautions as emergency crews prepared across the region.
“Ahead of the high fire danger, the county of Los Angeles Fire Department has pre-positioned additional personnel along with ground and aerial re C. Marrone. “With strong winds capable of driving rapid wildfire growth, we urge residents to prepare immediately. Review the Ready! Set! Go! program, identify your evacuation zone, and be prepared to evacuate without delay.”
Santa Ana winds drawing red flag warning
The red flag warning takes into effect on Thursday as the Santa Ana winds return to the area.
Sheriff Robert Luna stated, “As Los Angeles County prepares for the upcoming Red Flag Warning, the safety of our communities and our personnel remains our highest priority. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is taking proactive steps to ensure we are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to any emergencies that may arise.”
Kevin McGowan, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, recalled past incidents while highlighting early activation efforts: “The January 2025 wildfires underscored the importance of early coordination, clear public information and planning for people who need additional assistance. We are activating the EOC and Joint Information Center ahead of the forecast’s peak winds to support those priorities.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed state-level support, stating, “By positioning firefighters, engines, aircraft and specialized equipment in areas facing the greatest risk, we are helping local fire departments respond quickly when every second counts. We will continue working with our partners statewide to ensure they have the personnel, equipment and revent.”
When will we see relief?
Critical fire conditions will persist through Saturday evening before the Santa Ana winds gradually ease over the weekend. Coastal areas will experience cooling on Sunday, bringing lower temperatures and a potential for light rain by the middle of next week.
Be prepared and stay vigilant
- Sign up for emergency notifications through NotifyLA.org, lafd.org/alerts, or local government channels, and locate cooling center resources at ready.lacounty.gov/heat/.
- Vehicle owners must adhere strictly to Red Flag street-parking restrictions in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones to keep access routes clear for emergency apparatus.
- Families are advised to review evacuation routes, charge essential electronics, secure loose outdoor items, avoid spark-producing activities, and monitor guidance from local public safety authorities.
The National Weather Service, public safety declarations from the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and operational updates from the Los Angeles Fire Department, Southern California Edison, and the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. City News Service contributed
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