Tens of thousands of residents across Southern California are without power as severe Santa Ana winds trigger safety shutoffs and fuel multiple brush fires in the region.
The National Weather Service issued Red Flag Warnings and High Wind Warnings through Saturday evening for portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including the Santa Monica Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, the Interstate 5 corridor, and the Antelope Valley foothills. Forecasters reported northeast winds ranging from 25 to 45 mph, alongside high temperatures prompting a Heat Advisory until Saturday night.
Firefighters are actively battling blazes, including the Bryson Fire in Malibu—which forced evacuations and school closures—and the Norte Fire in San Clemente, which spread across at least 50 acres following its outbreak on Friday morning. While forward progress has been halted on the Peak Fire in Azusa, evacuation orders and warnings remain in place for affected zones, and local authorities urge residents to monitor alerts, keep emergency go-bags ready, and adhere strictly to evacuation directives.