Red-flag warning canceled; forecasters say rain on the way

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What was supposed to be a drier, gustier day across some parts of Southern California — prompting a red-flag fire warning from forecasters — won’t be as dry and gusty as anticipated.

The National Weather Service has canceled its red-flag warning for the Los Angeles and Ventura county mountains, as well as valley areas in the Santa Clarita region and Ventura County. The warning was expected to expire early Tuesday afternoon, but was canceled by 9 a.m. Monday.

The reason, meteorologist Bill Forwood said, is because the weather conditions didn’t develop as forecasters expected. The winds haven’t been as strong, he explained, and humidity levels weren’t as low.

Temperatures were expected to drop significantly mid-week, with lows dipping into the 40s in the valley areas on Wednesday, Forwood said. Downtown Los Angeles and valley areas could see highs in the lower 60s, he said, but the below-normal temperatures were expected to linger through the end of the week.

And with the cooler temperatures should come rain. Forwood said there was an 85% to 90% chance of showers for downtown and the valleys on Wednesday afternoon. Upper elevations could even see some snow, he added — a ‘light dusting’ is expected for areas as low as 3,500 feet, including the Grapevine.

‘It’s a little bit of winter weather,’ Forwood said.

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-- Kate Mather

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