What you should know

• A wind-driven brush fire broke out in Pacific Palisades around 10:30 a.m., threatening homes and forcing evacuations on a day of warning signals.
• Motorists, including people trying to evacuate the coastal LA County community, were caught in a traffic jam on PCH and other roads.
• Red Flag Warnings are in effect for the Malibu Coast, the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area, and the San Gabriel, San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys.
• The warning has been expanded to include Los Angeles County beaches, the Palos Verdes Hills and the inland coast of Los Angeles County, extending into downtown Los Angeles.
• The most intense red flag fire weather conditions are expected Tuesday night into Wednesday.
• Caltrans has closed Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Mulholland Drive and Pacific Coast Highway due to wildfire risk.
• Why is it so windy? Weather is all about Southern California’s topography and the infamous Santa Ana winds.