Community Corner

Hot, Dry Winds To Blow Increased Risk of Wildfires into San Diego County

A high wind warning is scheduled to take effect for San Diego County's mountains and deserts at noon and extend until midnight.

Strong, gusty winds set to develop in parts of San Diego County later today and cool temperatures are expected to give way to hot, dry winds, and an increased risk for wildfires early next week.

A high wind warning is scheduled to take effect for San Diego County's mountains and deserts at noon and extend until midnight. Areas of west to northwest winds are expected to strengthen to 25-35 mph with potentially damaging gusts of up to 65 mph.

"A low pressure system moving from the Pacific Northwest into the Great Basin will bring stronger onshore flow with periods of strong gusty west to northwest winds for the mountains and deserts for this afternoon through late this evening," according to the weather service.

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Forecasters said the strongest sustained winds would bluster along mountain ridge tops and on adjacent desert slopes, and gusts would occasionally surface onto the desert floor.

The winds could make for difficult driving conditions, especially along Interstate 8 through the mountains, according to the NWS.

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Visibility in the deserts could be reduced to a mile or less because of blowing sand or dust. Drivers, especially those in high profile vehicles, were advised to use caution.

The low pressure system brought slightly cooler temperatures and onshore flow, which are expected to give way to offshore flow and above average temperatures early next week as a high pressure system builds along the coast, forecasters said.

A fire weather watch is scheduled to take effect for San Diego County's mountains and inland valleys Sunday morning and extend through Monday evening because strong winds and low humidities are expected.

"Strengthening high pressure aloft along the west coast and surface high pressure over the Great Basin will bring much warmer and drier conditions with gusty Santa Ana winds for Sunday into next week," according to the weather service.

The strongest winds for this bout, 25-35 mph with gusts of up to 65 mph, are expected late Sunday and Monday. Forecasters said the very dry conditions and locally gusty winds are expected to stick around through at least Thursday.

—City News Service


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