By Leon Worden / SCVNews.com

Red flag and high wind warnings will be in effect for the Santa Clarita Valley starting Monday at 3 a.m. when strong Santa Ana winds are expected to return.

A red flag warning means critical fire conditions exist.

The National Weather Service reports that high pressure will rebuild and create an offshore flow across Southern California with peak gusts of 60 mph through the passes and canyons, and 45 mph to 60 mph winds blowing across exposed valley and coastal regions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

The Santa Clarita Valley should see gusty winds out of the northeast, coupled with relatively low humidity.

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Monday should bring 25 mph to 35 mph northeast winds to the SCV with gusts up to 60 mph.

Winds should decrease late Monday afternoon, increasing again late Monday night and early Tuesday.

Humidity should drop to 10 percent or 15 percent on Monday, possibly dipping to single digits on Tuesday.

“If fire ignition occurs, there could be rapid spread of wildfire that would lead to a threat to life and property,” the National Weather Service warns.

The combination of gusty winds, low humidity and dry brush “could create extreme fire danger,” it says.

“Winds may knock down trees and power lines and cause unsecured objects to be blown around,” the high wind warning states. “Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage.”

As of Sunday night, the high wind warning was to be in effect from 3 a.m. Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday.