The National Weather Service is warning of a dangerous weather event as Santa Ana winds sweep through Southern California over the next couple of days.
In a social media update Tuesday afternoon, the Weather Service showed a highlighted map of especially dangerous conditions from Los Angeles into Orange County and the northern tip of San Diego County. As of just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, San Diego County wind gusts were reaching nearly 50 mph in the mountains and more than 40 mph in valley areas.
Several North County communities have been warned of possible power cuts as well.
“A Particularly Dangerous Situation is expected for the highlighted portion of our area from 7AM – 1PM on Wednesday,” the Weather Service stated. “Very strong gusts and low relative humidity will allow any fires that develop to spread VERY rapidly! Wind damage including downed trees expected in some spots!”
By early Tuesday afternoon, a major fire had erupted in Los Angeles County. The Palisades Fire has burned more than 1,000 acres so far, according to Cal Fire.
For North San Diego County, the National Weather Service San Diego office predicts peak wind gusts of about 45 mph in Oceanside. Elsewhere along the coast and inland, from Carlsbad and Encinitas to San Marcos and Vista, wind gusts are expected to reach 30-40 mph.
Humidity levels are predicted to be as low as 12-15% in areas of North County, according to the Weather Service.
In Wynola, near Julian in the northern San Diego County mountains, a brush fire was contained to 3.5 acres on Tuesday, Cal Fire reported. Mowing operations were determined to be the cause of the blaze, named the Apple Fire.
Several North County communities could face SDG&E power cuts depending on the status of winds over the next two days. The warning is in effect from from noon Jan. 7 through 4 p.m. Jan. 10, the utility stated. Portions of Olivenhain in Encinitas and Rancho Santa Fe have been highlighted on SDG&E’s warning map.
Specific North County communities included on SDG&E’s list include:
✔ Escondido
✔ Fallbrook
✔ Julian
✔ Poway
✔ Ramona
✔ Rancho Bernardo
✔ Rancho Santa Fe
Southern California is currently sandwiched between strong high pressure to the north and low pressure to the south, resulting in a powerful offshore flow, according to forecasters.
“Strong high pressure will settle across the Great Basin and set the stage for the development of very strong Santa Ana winds over Southern California through Thursday,” its forecast discussion stated. “The combination of very strong downslope winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels will result in a significant risk of critical fire weather across parts of Southern California through Wednesday and Thursday.”