This hi-tech map from the National Weather Service shouts one thing: A major cold snap is hitting the U.S. The National Weather Service needs to upgrade from Microsoft Paint.

Locally, you’ll see that the SoCal coast is circled with the note “Enhanced Fire Danger, Jan 31-Feb 3″ – if you live or often park in a Red Flag neighborhood, mark these dates on your calendar as parking restrictions will likely be enforced then. This means your car will be could by the LAFD without notice.

Last evening, firefighters on the way to a brewing Hollywood Hills “conflagration” experienced what could have been a disaster:

Due to the narrow roads and an array of cars, both legally and illegally parked along the roadways, the additional Fire Companies experienced extreme difficulty navigating their way into the neighborhood to assist their comrades… Had the wind been blowing, and Firefighters would have encountered these same navigational problems, the outcome could have had been disastrous. This incident serves as a vivid reminder as to why the City has recently enacted the “Red Flag/No Parking” restrictions in high hazard locations of the City.

Red Flag Days are not in effect as of this writing – however, to check on their status visit the LAFD’s Red Flag info site, or dial 311.

Related posts:

1. RED FLAG DAYS UPDATE
2. Red Flag Day in effect!!!
3. Fire danger updates
4. have some wind
5. “The days of yakkin’ are coming to a screeching halt.”