Current Situation
The Hughes Fire started midday on 1/22/2025 east of Castaic Lake, California. It had grown to 9,000 acres by 6pm, and had spread vigorously to the west, driven by sustained NE winds and very low humidities. The winds are not severe enough to ground firefighting aircraft, and an enormous amount of water and retardant was applied to the fire throughout the afternoon by air tankers, scoopers, and helicopters. The fire had not yet crossed the dry wash downstream of Castaic Lagoon or I-5, which is crucial for containment. The area has a history of fires, which has left some areas covered with dry grass which, while still flammable, is preferable to old brush, from a firefighting standpoint. The fire is currently ‘officially’ 5% contained, but in reality, at least 25-30% of the perimeter is already under control due to Castaic Lake acting as a barrier. The weather forecast (see below) predicts increasing winds, and sustained winds for the next 2 days, posing a threat if the fire crosses I-5.
Evening Livestream
Fire History
Weather Forecast
Spot Forecast for Hughes…CAL FIRE
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
544 PM PST Wed Jan 22 2025
If conditions become unrepresentative, contact the National Weather
Service.
…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST FRIDAY…
…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING…
…HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 PM PST
THURSDAY…
.DISCUSSION…
High confidence in extremely dry conditions with little to no
overnight recoveries through Friday. Moderate confidence in only
minor wind fluctuations over the lower elevations tonight, but the
complex terrain may result in localized wind enhancement. Winds in
the higher elevations will likely start to ramp up later tonight.
All areas will increase and peak during the day on Thursday, likely
in the 10am to 3pm time window, with a pure northeast wind direction.
Moderate confidence in gradual decreasing winds Thursday night
through Friday, most pronounced over the lower elevations.
.TONIGHT…
Sky/weather………Mostly clear.
Min temperature…..46-52.
Max humidity……..10-15 percent.
Eye level winds…..North to northeast 5-8 mph with gusts to 12 mph.
Wind (20 ft)……..North to northeast 10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph.
Ridgetop wind…….Northeast 20-30 mph with gusts to 45 mph in
the evening becoming 25-35 mph with gusts to 50 mph.
Mixing height…….1500-2000 ft AGL.
.THURSDAY…
Sky/weather………Sunny.
Max temperature…..64-68.
Min humidity……..5-8 percent.
Eye level winds…..North to northeast 5-8 mph with gusts to 12 mph early
becoming northeast 10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph by 10am.
Wind (20 ft)……..North to northeast 10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph early
becoming northeast 20-30 mph with gusts to 45 mph by 10am.
Ridgetop wind…….Northeast 30-40 mph with gusts to 60 mph.
Mixing height…….1500 ft AGL early becoming 3500 ft AGL.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…
Sky/weather………Clear.
Min temperature…..45-50.
Max humidity……..12-18 percent.
Eye level winds…..Northeast 8-10 mph with gusts to 20 mph through 8pm
becoming north to northeast 4-6 mph with gusts to 10 mph.
Wind (20 ft)……..Northeast 15-20 mph with gusts to 35 mph through 8pm
becoming north to northeast 8-12 mph with gusts to 20 mph.
Ridgetop wind…….Northeast 20-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph in the evening
becoming 15-25 mph with gusts to 35 mph.
Mixing height…….1500-2500 ft AGL.
.FRIDAY…
Sky/weather………Sunny.
Max temperature…..64-68.
Min humidity……..6-9 percent.
Eye level winds…..North to northeast 4-6 mph with gusts to 10 mph becoming
northeast 3-5 mph with gusts to 8 mph by the afternoon.
Wind (20 ft)……..North to northeast 8-12 mph with gusts to 20 mph becoming
northeast 6-10 mph with gusts to 15 mph by the afternoon.
Ridgetop wind…….Northeast 10-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph early becoming
North 8-15 mph in the afternoon.
Mixing height…….1500 ft AGL early becoming 4000 ft AGL.