Officials announced the full closure of Topanga Canyon Boulevard through the Santa Monica Mountains due to dangerous fire conditions over the next couple of days.
Forecasters point to the strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity levels starting on Monday afternoon and persisting until Wednesday evening.
The closure will shut down Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Mulholland Drive and Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, according to Caltrans. “Only residents and local business traffic will be allowed into the canyon,” Caltrans stated.
A vehicle travels along Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Topanga on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. Caltrans is planning on closing Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Mulholland Drive and Pacific Coast Highway except for local traffic through Wednesday due to a red flag high fire danger warning. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
According to National Weather Service, a “particularly dangerous situation” would unfold from 10 pm Monday through Tuesday at 2 pm, “Due to damaging Santa Ana Winds and very low humidities” for the Santa Monica Mountains, Western San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Clarita Valley and other adjacent areas.
This is a replay of cautionary actions in Topanga Canyon this year, including the shutdown of the canyon to all but local residents on Thursday, Nov. 11, with officials citing an especially high wildfire risk due to strong forecasted Santa Ana winds and low humidity.
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