Here's when the strongest winds will whip across Southern California and how long it'll last

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Potentially damaging Santa Ana winds will blow through Southern California, elevating fire risk to dangerous levels for the next few days.

The National Weather Service's Los Angeles office has described the windstorm as "life-threatening and destructive." A red flag warning in effect through Thursday covers a large swath of the region.

The NWS said the wind event will "likely be the most destructive windstorm seen since 2011," which caused extensive damage to Pasadena and nearby foothills of the San Gabriel Valley.

Here's more on the timing of the windstorm over the next few days:

The wind speeds will remain typical for a Santa Ana wind event through the morning hours, but they are expected to strengthen as a system of high pressure moves in.

That system will create conditions for widespread gusts across Southern California, including valleys, foothill communities an even out to the coastline.

Some of the strongest winds expected will happen starting noon Tuesday and into the overnight hours.

By 5 p.m. Tuesday, wind speeds will reach around 36 mph in Burbank, while over in the Inland Empire, those speeds can top 40 mph.

Those intense conditions are expected to last through noon Wednesday, but they should calm down significantly by Thursday.

Tuesday weather

On Tuesday, Los Angeles and Orange counties can expect a high of 69 degrees with northeast canyons winds gusting up to 45 mph. Fire danger continues through Thursday.

The valleys and Inland Empire will be in the upper 60s in the afternoon and in the low 40s overnight. A red flag warning is in effect through Thursday.

Beaches can expect a high around 68 degrees and surf between 3-6 feet. In areas above Malibu, wind gusts will reach 40-50 mph and even higher in a few other areas.

Mountain areas will see strong, gusty winds amid a high of 39 degrees. Temperatures drop to a chilly 19 degrees overnight.

Strong winds in the deserts could result in blowing dust, creating tough driving conditions. The high on Tuesday will reach 59.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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