At least six wildfires were burning in Los Angeles County as of Thursday morning, and winds were expected to intensify throughout the day, as forecasters warned this could exacerbate the situation.

Even though wind speeds have decreased from the peak levels experienced earlier this week, Thursday’s forecast indicates a resurgence of wind beginning around midday to afternoon, according to AccuWeather.

The National Weather Service reports that on Thursday, gusts ranging from 30 to 50 mph are expected, particularly in typical Santa Ana wind areas, with the strongest gusts observed in the mountains and foothills. Tonight and into Friday, wind speeds may rise slightly, with gusts reaching 40 to 55 mph, and isolated gusts could peak at 70 mph in certain foothills and mountain tops.

High Fire Risk

The ongoing winds will maintain a critical fire risk level, complicating efforts to combat the fires both on the ground and in the air, as noted by AccuWeather. Smoke from the fires is expected to create widespread poor air quality for areas downwind of the flames.

Winds are anticipated to decrease rapidly early Friday, leading to calmer conditions for the remainder of the day, AccuWeather indicates.

Continued Red Flag Warnings

A Red Flag Warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are expected soon.