UPDATE: Critical Fire Weather Forecast for Rancho Bernardo

RANCHO BERNARDO, CA -Forecasters say "critical fire weather conditions" will remain in parts of San Diego County on Thursday.

A National Weather Service red flag warning for the inland valleys and the mountains is in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday.

On Thursday, temperatures will be 87 to 92 degrees along the coast, 92 to 97 inland, 93 to 98 in the western valleys, 88 to 93 near the foothills, 79 to 88 in the mountains and 91 to 96 in the deserts.

ORIGINAL POST:

Santa Ana winds will combine with hot weather and dry conditions in the coming days to increase the risk for wildfires across San Diego County.

A National Weather Service red flag warning for the inland valleys and the mountains will remain in effect from 2 a.m. Wednesday until 8 p.m. Thursday.

Northeast winds of 15 to 30 miles per hour are expected throughout the warning period, along with gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Forecasters said the strongest winds would blow through and below mountain passes and into portions of the inland valleys.

"The winds will first reach the Cajon Pass, the Inland Empire, the Santa Ana Mountains and foothills and inland Orange County late (Tuesday) into Wednesday morning," according to the weather service. "Critical fire weather conditions will spread into San Diego County Wednesday into Thursday. The Santa Ana winds will weaken by Friday, but hot and dry conditions will continue."

In San Diego, daytime high temperatures are expected to skyrocket from 73 degrees Tuesday to 87 degrees Wednesday, and will skyrocket to 90 degrees by the end of the work week.

Any fires that do develop will likely spread rapidly and outdoor burning is not advised, forecasters said.

- City News Service / Image via Shutterstock