Warm temperatures, up to 70 mph winds expected in L.A., Ventura counties

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USC students Pat Corcoran and Alexandra Plzak enjoy the warm weather on campus Tuesday as temperatures reached a record 87 degrees in downtown Los Angeles.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Los Angeles City firefighter Harold Kim cools down after battling a house fire in 90-degree heat Tuesday.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Blakey Olsen of Laguna Beach practices yoga in front of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum as temperatures set a record at 87 degrees in downtown L.A. on Tuesday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A man carries a surfboard at sunset at El Porto beach on Monday in Manhattan Beach.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Basilios Papaioannou of West Hollywood builds a drip castle in the sand at Venice Beach.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

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People play football and climb on the rock jetty at Venice Beach.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

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Boys play in the ocean at Venice Beach.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

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Ariel Rhone uses an umbrella for shade near the Venice boardwalk on Monday.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

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Venetia Taylor of New York enjoys the afternoon reading a book at the Ace Hotel rooftop pool on Broadway Street in Los Angeles

(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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Dan Charcoal, who is vacationing in Southern California from Maui, golfs on Zuma Beach during a hot winter day Monday.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dilip Ray performs jumping jacks during his daily workout at Warner Park in Woodland Hills. Warm temperatures and high winds are expected today.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Holly Di Renzo gives her daughter Bella, 4, left, and son Dante, 3, a push, as they ride on the swings at Lost Canyon Park in Simi Valley.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Feet dangle from a lifeguard tower along PCH in Malibu during a hot winter day Monday.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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On a warm, windy afternoon a woman heads to her car after shopping at the 99 Cents store in Simi Valley.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Cedric Laheurte places an Oscars “floaty” in the swimming pool as warm weather is in store for the annual Oscars nominee luncheon today at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Strong winds and high temperatures have fire crews on alert. Above, David Castro works at Warner Park in Woodland Hills on Monday.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

By Veronica Rocha

Feb. 8, 2016 6:39 AM PT

Strong winds could top 70 mph for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties Monday, increasing the risk of potentially volatile fire conditions.

Firefighters were put on alert as powerful offshore winds, unseasonably warm temperatures and dry conditions prompted a red flag warning due to extreme fire danger in both counties. The conditions could lead to “rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior,” the National Weather Service warned.

In Camarillo, firefighters saw the dangerous fire conditions firsthand Sunday when a small blaze quickly expanded to three acres and threatened structures in the area. Firefighters were able to control the blaze after a fast and aggressive response.

Where do the Santa Ana winds come from?

Gusts of up to 70 mph or higher were expected to howl through the mountains Monday. Similarly, powerful gusts reaching 50 mph could sweep through the valleys and coastal areas.