High fire risk in San Diego due to strong winds and dryness
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As relative humidity levels drop as low as 10-20% in San Diego County on Sunday afternoon, the second Santa Ana wind event blows into the region since the start of the water year.
Gusts will reach between 25-40 miles per hour in the coastal slopes and downwind passes.
Strong winds, dry conditions, and heat nearly 20 degrees above seasonal averages mean there's an elevated fire risk through the evening.
Places like Julian, Ramona, and Clover Flat will see the highest risk for rapidly spreading fires if one were to ignite.
High temperatures across the county climb to 12-17 degrees above average until Monday.
(National Weather Service)
Areas of minor to moderate heat risk can be expected before a cooldown moves in later this week.
Overnight, dense fog remains in the forecast with reduced visibility along the coast, and rain chances begin to hit the county late Thursday.
The greatest chance for rain comes on Friday and will stick around though next weekend.
Early models show the mountain slopes accumulating as much as an inch or more over the course of the three-day showers.
The storm will be cold enough to produce mountain snow at elevations higher than 6,500 feet, but that level could drop with more clarity later this week.
Wind gusts could increase to 40-50 miles per hour as this low pressure storm system moves into Southern California.
Full forecast at fox5sandiego.com/weather
