By Mary O’KEEFE

The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning and Red Flag Warning for the Ventura and Los Angeles counties including portions of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The High Wind Warning is in effect tonight from 10 p.m. to Wednesday at 3 p.m. The Red Flag Warning is in effect from March 12 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“It will start at 10 p.m. the [strength of the winds] will vary,” said Stuart Seto, weather specialist National Weather Service Oxnard.

Santa Ana winds are expected to start out strong with sustained winds at 25 to 35 miles per hour and gusts up to 60 mph. Isolated areas in the mountains could see winds as high as 70 mph.

The Red Flag Warning is due to the critical fire conditions with high winds, dry vegetation and low humidity.

“We are still far [below normal rainfall],” said Seto. “Downtown L.A. is almost 6.5 inches below [normal].”