Powerful winds and bone-dry conditions could pose a challenge to firefighters battling new wildfires in southern California on Thursday, including a blaze that swelled over the past day and forced tens of thousands of evacuations north of Los Angeles.

The Hughes fire, burning near Castaic Lake north of Santa Clarita, exploded to more than 10,000 acres of mostly brush in just a few hours. More than 50,000 people were under evacuation orders and warnings.

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Dubbed the Hughes Fire, the wildfire broke out around 10:42 am and went from 50-100 acres to 9,000 acres in hours, threatening local communities and Magic Mountain.

The Hughes fire, which broke out north of Santa Clarita on Wednesday, has scorched more than 10,000 acres.

The Hughes Fire has spread over 8,096 acres after starting just before lunchtime in Los Angeles County's Castaic Lake area on Wednesday.

On Tuesday at 10:43 p.m. the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA issued a high wind watch valid for Thursday between 2 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Over 1,100 firefighters were “strategically pre-positioned” across Southern California to address "ongoing critical fire weather," Cal Fire said.

Photos taken of the Hughes Fire around Castaic Lake, California captured the massive blaze and cloud of smoke visible from Six Flags Magic Mountain.

As critical fire weather continues to strike in Southern California, crews are also tasked with preparing for a storm expected this weekend that could trigger mudslides in burn scar areas.

The Palisades and Eaton wildfires continue burning in the Los Angeles area, leaving parts of Southern California with devastating fire damage.