Gusts of up to 70 mph are possible along the coast and valleys, and in the mountains, up to 100 mph, the National Weather Service said. Swaths of Los Angeles County, and most of Ventura County, are at the highest risk.

With the PDS warning, officials said Monday that residents should be prepared to leave immediately as the critical fire danger weather ramps up.

Here's a guide to understanding "particularly dangerous situation" red flag warnings, containment, and other terms related to the devastating fires that have left much of the LA area in ruins.

Dire warnings have been issued for the Los Angeles area, with a dangerous threat for the strongest wind event in more than a decade. Outages and extreme fire behaviours are major risks

Forecasters expect Wednesday will be noticeably windier than Tuesday and firefighters warned that vegetation is critically dry.

The Los Angeles region, still reeling from this month’s firestorm, is under a red-flag warning from noon Monday through Tuesday morning.

Southern California is heading into a day of its most extreme fire weather conditions — an unprecedented fifth time the National Weather Service office has sounded the alarm this season of a “particularly dangerous situation.

Santa Ana winds will hit the Los Angeles area yet again this week, bringing extreme risk of rapid fire spread as the region continues to tamp out deadly wildfires that ignited under similar conditions earlier this month.