The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch in Los Angeles and Ventura counties as Santa Ana winds are expected to lower humidity.

A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Tuesday night into Thursday as Santa Ana winds sweep back into the Southern California forecast, according to the National Weather Service.

NWS San Diego forecasts warmer temperatures and Santa Ana winds, raising fire weather risks in Southern California.

To understand the Santa Ana winds, it’s important to first look at the larger atmospheric pattern that creates them. A strong high-pressure system builds in the Great Basin, located to the northeast of California.

The Franklin fire was 38% contained as of Saturday evening. 19 structures have been confirmed destroyed and an additional 23 damaged, officials said. Eight of the buildings destroyed were homes.

Power to tens of thousands of people had been shut off by Monday night as utilities worked to mitigate the impacts of Southern California’s notorious Santa Ana winds, whose strong gusts could damage electrical equipment and spark wildfires.

Parts of Southern California are still facing "elevated to brief "critical conditions" into Thursday night as a fast-moving wildfire that forced thousands in Malibu to evacuate continues to grow.Threat level: Red Flag warnings ended as powerful Santa Ana winds eased on Wednesday afternoon,

The start to the week is expected to be warmer with above average temperatures Monday and Santa Ana winds anticipated by mid-week, according to the National Weather Service.