Wildfires began breaking out in Southern California Tuesday morning as a life-threatening, widespread windstorm that could be one of the most destructive to hit the region in over a decade roars to life and creates extremely dangerous fire weather conditions.

As a destructive and life-threatening windstorm continues battering Southern California Tuesday, fire officials warned the danger will continue overnight as peak winds are forecasted to arrive. Increased wind danger will begin at 10 p.

A high wind warning is in effect for the Los Angeles area from 4 p.m. Tuesday to 6 p.m. Wednesday. As of 5:24 a.m., the fiercest winds, at up to 79 mph, have been reported in the San Gabriel Mountains at the Mount Lukens Truck Trail above La Cañada Flintridge.

Parts of Southern California will see winds up to 100 mph on Tuesday and "extreme wildfire risk" as Santa Ana winds tear through the region, according to a map created by AccuWeather meteorologists. Newsweek reached out to AccuWeather by email for comment.

Maps released by the National Weather Service show what areas in Southern California will be hit the hardest by what could be the strongest windstorm in more than a decade. National Weather Service What you need to know about Los Angeles area windstorm The National Weather Service said the windstorm would begin in Tuesday afternoon across Los