LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Dry, windy conditions will have Southern California firefighters on alert through the New Year's holiday period. And within the city of Los Angeles, "red flag'' parking restrictions went into force on Sunday.
The ``fire weather watch'' was scheduled to last from Monday morning until Tuesday afternoon, as an inland high pressure system moves into the region, bringing weather conditions conducive to wildfires.
In Los Angeles, "red flag'' parking restrictions are in force where posted -- mainly along narrow hillside roads that need to be clear to accommodate oversize fire vehicles.
Wind gusts up to 60 mph have been forecast for the Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Clarita and other wind-prone areas early New Year's Day.
The National Weather Service said Inland valleys such as the San Fernando and Santa Clara River valleys can expect winds topping 50 mph.
The winds are expected to be strongest in the mountains near Malibu and north and northeast of Los Angeles.
No fire weather watch was scheduled yet for San Diego, Orange and Riverside counties, but weather service officials said those areas could still have winds of 35 mph -- with gusts up to 70 mph on New Year's Day.
Hot, dry winds helped spread a spate of forest fires in October that scorched some 800 square miles and destroyed 2,196 homes in seven Southern California counties.
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