High Winds Persist, 30,000 Without Power In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – San Diego County remains under a red flag warning Tuesday, with the National Weather Service forecasting strong Santa Ana winds along with low humidity. As a precaution, utility officials shut off power to thousands of customers in the region.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the county mountains, valleys and coastal areas that was originally set to last until 5 p.m. Tuesday but has been extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday. The NWS also issued a high wind warning in the mountains and valleys that remains in effect until 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Winds were expected to blow east to northeast at between 30 to 40 mph in most of the region with gusts of 80 mph possible near the ridge tops of the county mountains, according to the NWS. Sill Hill, just west of Cuyamaca Peak, recorded gusts as high as 86 mph Monday.

Humidity levels were expected to drop to around 5 percent with poor recovery overnight.

High temperatures Tuesday were predicted to be 75 to 80 degrees near the coast and inland, 75 to 80 degrees in the western valleys, 65 to 70 near the foothills, and 53 to 62 in the mountains, forecasters said.

Fuels, meaning the vegetation, remain very dry. Any fires that develop were expected to grow rapidly, burn intensely and be difficult to control, according to the Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index.

San Diego Gas & Electric shut off power on Monday to around 10,600 customers in the areas of Boulevard, Buckman Springs, Campo, Descanso, Julian, Lake Wohlford, Pine Valley, Ramona, San Marcos and Santa Ysabel as a safety precaution because of the high winds and low humidity, according to the utility company.

By Tuesday morning, around 30,000 customers in the previous areas along with the areas of Encinitas, Escondido, Olivenhain, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos and Valley Center were without power.

The power outages were either due to SDG&E shutting off the power for public safety or unplanned outages due to high winds.

The outages could last until the red flag warning expires Wednesday afternoon.

The San Diego County Office of Education announced that the Jamul-Dulzura Union School District, Julian Union School District, Julian Union High School District, Mountain Empire Unified School District and Spencer Valley School District would be closed Tuesday because of the public safety power shutoff.

The agency later announced that Jamacha Elementary in the Cajon Valley Union School District and Cuyamaca Outdoor School, which is owned by the San Diego County Office of Education and located in Descanso, would also be closed Tuesday.

Six resource centers were open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for residents affected by the outages.

Residents can get water and snacks, charge their phones and get updated information on outages at the following resources centers:

• Mountain Empire High School Gymnasium, 3305 Buckman Springs Road, Campo
• Potrero Resource Center, 24550 Highway 94, Potrero
• Camp Oliver Lodge, 8761 Riverside Drive, Descanso
• Golden Acorn Casino & Travel Center, 1800 Golden Acorn Way, Campo
• Whispering Winds Catholic Camp, 17606 Harrison Park Road, Julian
• Dulzura Community Center, 1136 Community Building Road, Dulzura

With the heightened fire danger, authorities recommended that residents avoid outdoor burning, using lawn mowers or power tools outside and have emergency preparedness kits in order.

The winds were expected to peak Tuesday morning before gradually decreasing into Wednesday, forecasters said.

City News Service and Kristina Houck/Patch contributed to this report.

Photo by Autumn Johnson/Patch