As powerful Santa Ana winds and low humidity return to Southern California, a large section of Topanga Canyon Boulevard will be shut down Thursday and Friday.
The city of Malibu alerted the public that Topanga Canyond Boulevard between Mulholland Drive and Pacific Coast Highway from Thursday at 6 a.m. to Friday 10 p.m.
Old Topanga Canyon Road will also be closed between Mulholland Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
But the roadways will be still accessible to those who live in the area with Topanga Access Card.
Powerful Santa Ana winds and rising temperatures will combine with low humidity starting tomorrow to create critical wildfire conditions across much of Los Angeles County, with forecasters warning of potentially damaging gusts and an elevated risk of rapidly spreading fires through Saturday.
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings of critical fire danger for much of Los Angeles County beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday and continuing until 8 p.m. Saturday.
Forecasters noted that winds of 40 to 50 mph were already recorded in some mountain areas Wednesday morning, along with gusts of 25 to 35 mph in the western San Fernando Valley.
The first Santa Ana event for the season is going to be a strong one," according to the NWS, which said wind are expected to peak on Friday. During that peak period, wind gusts across the LA/Ventura mountains are expected to reach as high as 70 mph while the LA/Ventura valleys and Ventura coastal areas peak at around 55 mph,'' forecasters said.
Temperatures are also expected to rise with the onset of the Santa Ana winds, with most coastal areas reaching into the 90s by Friday. Valleys are expected to be in the mid-80s to mid-90s, but there's a slight chance some areas could reach triple-digits, forecasters said.
Red flag warnings will cover the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, San Gabriel Mountains, the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) freeway corridors, Antelope Valley foothills, the Malibu Coast, Calabasas andthe Santa Clarita, San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys.
In addition to the gusting winds, forecasters said mountain areas could experience humidity levels falling to between 8% and 20%. Other areas. could see winds of 20 to 30 mph, gusting to 50 mph, with humidity dropping as low as 5%.
The NWS also issued wind advisories from 6 a.m. Thursday through 8 p.m. Friday for the Malibu Coast, the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys, and the Eastern Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area.
A high wind warning will be in effect from Thursday morning through Friday evening for the Western Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, the San Gabriel Mountains and the 5 and 14 freeway corridors. A wind advisory will be in effect for the Malibu coast.