Wildfires began breaking out in Southern California Tuesday morning as a life-threatening, widespread windstorm that could be one of the most destructive to hit the region in over a decade roars to life and creates extremely dangerous fire weather conditions.

Millions of people across Southern California are under a Red Flag warning as a dangerous windstorm fanned blazes in the Los Angeles area, including the Palisades Fire, which has triggered evacuations and burned hundreds of acres.

Strong winds — with gusts as high as 79 mph in the San Gabriel Mountains — began blowing their way through Southern California on Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, leading to the possibility of downed trees and wires, power outages and dangerous fire weather.

As a destructive and life-threatening windstorm continues battering Southern California Tuesday, fire officials warned the danger will continue overnight as peak winds are forecasted to arrive. Increased wind danger will begin at 10 p.

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

The weather event in Southern California is expected to last from Tuesday to Wednesday. The wind is also a concern for the California Highway Patrol, especially through the Grapevine.

The Santa Ana winds are a notorious wind event in California. It has been fueling the southern California wildfires.

At least two fires sparked in Southern California on Jan. 7 amid a “life-threatening and destructive” windstorm event that’s sweeping through the region.