A rare Particularly Dangerous Situation warning has been issued for Southern California as a powerful and potentially damaging Santa Ana wind event​ is expected.

Not only do these winds accelerate the speed and spread of the fires, they also affect how the fires are fought. The strong winds can make it dangerous to fly aircraft used for containing the fires.

Critical fire conditions are expected to continue through Friday. But rain could be on the way this weekend. Here's what to know.

As Southern California shifts into recovery mode after the devastating wildfires, residents should stay on alert on Monday and Tuesday with high winds returning. The National Weather Service has issued another Red Flag Warning from 10 a.

The winds fueling Southern California wildfires form when a high-pressure system develops over the Great Basin in Utah and Nevada

Millions of California residents were placed under a red flag warning through Thursday amid threats of further fires with looming winds in the forecast, according to multiple reports.

A "Particularly Dangerous Situation" warning remains in effect as strong winds cause extreme fire danger in Southern California.

Meteorologists said there was a chance the winds would be as severe as those that fueled the Palisades and Eaton fires, but that different locations would likely be affected.

Weekend rains could bring some relief to Southern California, as firefighters continue to fight to establish greater containment over the Hughes, Palisades and Eaton fires. But if dry weather returns,

Two weeks after the Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed thousands of homes in two distinct LA-area communities, many in Los Angeles County are still in a state of shock, even as donation drives peter out and the focus starts to shift from immediate support for fire survivors to broader questions about how the region could rebuild and recover .

Santa Ana winds continued challenging firefighters on the Palisades and Eaton fires, but containment inched forward along the coast, and debris cleanup was underway in both burn scars ahead of possible rain coming over the weekend, authorities said.