Santa Anas Making a Return

Put away the patio chairs: Santa Ana winds are likely to arrive late tonight and stick around all day Monday.

A National Weather Service wind advisory is set for 2 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph will rake the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu, and wind-prone sections of the San Gabriel Mountains.

Top gusts of 40 mph were predicted for the San Fernando Valley foothills and along Interstate 5 near Santa Clarita and Castaic, as well as the Santa Ana Mountains south of Corona. San Diego County's backcountry was getting similar warnings.

"Surface pressure gradients will transition from onshore to offshore tonight as surface high pressure builds into the Great Basin," the NWS advisory said. "This will result in gusty northeast to east winds developing late tonight and continuing through the day on Monday."

Winds speeds are expected to peak Monday morning, and gradually decrease Monday afternoon, according to the NWS.

Forecasters said the winds could make for difficult driving conditions, especially for motorists in high profile vehicles. Drivers were advised to be on the lookout for broken tree limbs and other debris.

--City News Service