Southern California Edison, one of the major electricity providers, could shut off power to more than 409,000 residents amid a major Santa Ana windstorm this week.

The strongest winds in more than a decade could hit Southern California, potentially causing structural damage and bringing extreme fire risk to areas that haven’t seen substantial rain in months.

Southern California Edison, one of the major electricity providers, could shut off power to more than 409,000 residents amid a major Santa Ana windstorm this week.

The NWS is warning SoCal residents to be prepared as a life-threatening, destructive, widespread windstorm is expected to sweep through much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties Tuesday through Wednesday.

In preparation for what it is calling “critical fire weather,” Cal Fire is moving firefighting resources from Northern California to Southern California, deploying additional crews and engines to Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties, according to a news release from the agency.

Exceptionally powerful, dry winds expected across Southern California this week are set to send wildfire risk skyrocketing in a region that’s endured more than eight months without significant rain.

Winds will whip up and humidity levels will drop in Southern California this week, raising the risk for wildfires in parched areas still recovering from a recent destructive blaze

"Quiet weather" for much of the region Monday will take a quick turn Tuesday as widespread, damaging winds bring extreme fire weather conditions to Southern California.

A powerful windstorm with gusts reaching 75 mph or more is expected to blow through Southern California this week. A high wind watch has been issued from Tuesday morning through late Wednesday night,