[UPDATE 1/16 2:32PM:] The Red Flag Warning has been extended to 6 p.m. on Friday.
[Original Post:] With gusts blowing, record temperatures rising and humidity remaining low, a Red Flag Warning has been extended in Malibu and surrounding areas until Friday afternoon. A wind advisory was also extended through early Friday morning, the National Weather Service announced.
“If fire ignition occurs there could be rapid spread of wildfire that would lead to a threat of life and property,” according to NWS.
Gusts as high as 50 MPH and extremely low humidities between 4 and 12 percent are expected in mountain areas, warranting the Red Flag Warning until 3 p.m. on Friday. The wind advisory is set to expire at 4 a.m. on Friday.
Winds should “diminish” on Wednesday afternoon but are projected to start blowing strongly again on Thursday afternoon and evening.
“The strongest winds will occur each day in the late mornings through early evening hours,” a statement said.
Locals and fire crews are already on high alert after two brush fires — one along PCH in Pacific Palisades and another in Topanga — erupted near Malibu yesterday. Luckily, both were put out in a matter of hours and burned about two acres each.Â