Fire Weather in Effect for Next Few Days

A heightened danger of wildfire stemming from hot, dry and windy conditions will threaten the Southland today and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

On Tuesday, firefighters extinguished a small brush fire on Bundy Drive and College Drive that made its way up a hill from a retaining wall. 

"The very warm and dry conditions coupled with offshore breezes and very dry fuels will bring elevated fire danger to the Southland through Thursday," warned an NWS advisory.

"Of greatest concern will be Wednesday morning through Thursday morning when offshore winds will bring near-critical fire weather to portion of the mountains and valleys."

The hot weather results in part from an upper-level high pressure system combined with an offshore flow expected to gain strength beginning this morning, according to the weather service.

From this morning until Thursday morning, offshore winds will gust at between 25 and 35 miles per hour in mountain, valley and coastal areas, according to an NWS advisory.

At the same time, valley temperatures will range between the mid 90s and low 100s -- 15-20 degrees above normal in some areas. No heat records are expected today, but some may be set Thursday, even though it will be a few degrees cooler.

Temperatures will drop over the coming says. Downtown L.A., for instance, will go from a high of 95 today to 88 Thursday and 79 Friday, after which highs will lose a few more degrees.

NWS forecasters urged area residents to wear light, lightweight clothing today and Thursday, drink plenty of nonalcoholic fluids and never leave people or pets in parked vehicles in hot weather, even with the windows down.