Firefighters in battle-scarred Los Angeles County and around Southern California could again face “extreme” fire weather conditions with powerful gusts in the coming week, the National Weather Service said on Saturday, Jan. 18. “A strong and dry Santa Ana event with extreme fire weather conditions is increasingly likely,” the NWS said. “This event may be considerably stronger for many areas than the event that we experienced this past Monday through Wednesday.” Also see: How to prepare for the next Santa Ana wind event The stage is once again set for enormous fire danger because there still is critically dry vegetation, with no real rain since April, meteorologists said. Parts of Los Angeles, Orange Riverside and San Bernardino counties all will be under a red flag warning beginning on Monday morning, the NWS said. The strongest Santa Anas are expected Tuesday morning. “Santa Ana winds will return for inland areas Monday, peaking in strength Monday night into Tuesday, then continuing through midweek,” the NWS said on X. On Saturday, fire crews at the Eaton fire saw some favorable weather but have been closely monitoring the forecast, said Carlos Herrera, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. For now, with the aid of helpful southerly winds and humidity, Herrera said crews were focused on increasing containment on “rugged terrain” approaching Mount Lowe and Mount Wilson in the San Gabriel Mountains. That’s where forecasts show the strongest winds will blow early next week — moving from the western San Gabriel Mountains, into the Santana Susana Mountains and down to the western Santa Monica Mountains, meteorologist Kristan Lund said. It’s predicted that areas in western San Fernando Valley, between Van Nuys and Burbank, will be hit the hardest. Gusts up to 65 mph are expected in some non-mountain areas, with gusts up to 80 mph in the mountains. This is a developing story. Please check back for more. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Tens of thousands in Southern California could lose power next week with return of high winds Crime and Public Safety | Pacific Palisades evacuation order came after homes were already burning, AP finds Crime and Public Safety | Firefighters make overnight progress battling Palisades and Eaton fires Crime and Public Safety | Man accused of fatal hit-and-run in Temecula taken into custody Crime and Public Safety | Crypto ‘Godfather’ and LA County sheriff’s deputy to plead guilty in intimidation, extortion conspiracy