Santa Ana wind conditions expected this week, raising fire risk in Southern California
Updated
As a heavy wet snow is expected to fall throughout San Diego County this weekend, residents along the California-Mexico border are preparing to face a new threat.
The warmest and driest period in months is predicted to return in California on Monday, leading to dangerously high winds, which could create fires that threaten homes, businesses and other structures all along the California-Mexico border.
The National Weather Service issued a warning of low-level severe weather, including strong winds, in the mountains and hills as far north as Riverside County on Sunday, prompting the U.S. Forest Service to issue red flag warnings and to issue the National Weather Service’s first flash alert for possible wildfire activity Saturday in the Santa Anas.
The fire danger was raised to high from high, while the low-risk warning remained in effect for the south-central San Diego County mountains and hills, the National Weather Service said.
The weather service cautioned, “Dry, light to moderate wind gusts at 15 to 30 mph are possible with this event.” Any gusts that exceed that can carry the moisture that drips from the saturated soil.
In addition, the dry air is expected to turn the hot and dry conditions into a heat wave that could lead to dangerously hot temperatures and higher fire danger for residents for the next several days, the weather service said.
A firefighting crew battling a blaze in the hills of San Diego on Monday. Officials say people living near the fire may find it difficult to leave, if they could have.
The National Weather Service’s forecast for Monday morning through Tuesday night shows a chance of rain in the morning and afternoon and even drier air in the evening.
A large dry thunderstorm is expected at 3:15 a.m. Tuesday, the weather service said. The system will likely bring a few inches of rain, but it will have limited effects on coastal regions.
“In the mountains and hills, it’s not going to be much of a rain event at all,” said Steve Cottam, a meteorologist with the weather service’s San Diego office.
A view of the fire on Monday near Sespe. Officials say
