Critical Fire Weather Conditions, Smoky Skies In La Mesa

LA MESA, CA – A red flag warning has been extended through Sunday night as critical fire weather conditions are expected to continue in La Mesa and across San Diego County.

Periods of strong Santa Ana winds and very low humidity are forecast, according to the National Weather Service. Winds will gradually weaken Friday and Saturday, but fire weather conditions are expected to linger in some areas through Sunday.

"A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly," the weather service said. "A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior."

Here are the weather conditions the National Weather Service is forecasting for La Mesa through the weekend:

Friday
Areas of smoke after 10am. Sunny, with a high near 77. West wind around 5 mph.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 81.

Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 56.

Image by Autumn Johnson, Patch Staff