Red Flag Warning In Effect For Most Of San Diego County

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for most of San Diego County, with the first Santa Ana winds of the season expected to slam parts of the region and raise the risk of wildfires.

The red flag warning will be in effect from 8 a.m. Monday through 10 a.m. Tuesday for the coastal mountain slopes and foothills and adjacent valley areas of San Diego County.

"A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly," the National Weather Service said in an advisory. "A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and heat can contribute to extreme fire behavior."

Strong and gusty 20 to 30 mile per hour northeast winds are expected Monday morning through Tuesday morning, with gusts of 45 to 50 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. Humidity levels are predicted to fall to between 8 and 12 percent late Monday morning through early Monday evening. On Tuesday, humidity is predicted to remain between 10 and 15 percent.

The winds and humidity levels combined are expected to create critical fire weather conditions for coastal foothills and adjacent valleys throughout San Diego County, according to the forecast. Any fires that develop "will likely spread rapidly with extreme behavior," the National Weather Service said.

Winds will weaken Tuesday afternoon with humidity beginning to rise in inland areas on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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