Weather

Winds, Dry Conditions Raise Risk Of Wildfires In San Diego County

Santa Ana winds will sweep through San Diego County Tuesday as dry conditions persist, raising the risk of wildfires, according to the NWS.

City News Service, News Partner
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The winds will not be nearly as strong or widespread as on Monday and the critical fire conditions will only last from sunrise through noon Tuesday in the valleys and along coastal mountains slopes, forecasters said.
The winds will not be nearly as strong or widespread as on Monday and the critical fire conditions will only last from sunrise through noon Tuesday in the valleys and along coastal mountains slopes, forecasters said. (Renee Schiavone/Patch)

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — Dry, gusty Santa Ana winds swept through the San Diego area for a second day Tuesday, raising the risk of wildfires in the mountains and inland valleys and prompting precautionary power shutoffs in East County communities.

The elevated fire hazards were expected to be significantly milder than they were Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Winds out of the northeast were expected to range between 20 and 40 mph, with sustained wind gusts potentially reaching 35 to 50 mph, forecasters said. Humidity levels as low as 5 to 10% were anticipated in some locales.

Find out what's happening in San Diegofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

In the late morning, San Diego Gas & Electric shut off electrical service to almost 1,500 addresses in Boulevard, Buckman Springs, Jacumba, Japatul Valley, Live Oak Springs and Morena Village as a precaution due to the possibility of powerline-sparked fires.

Service was expected to be restored to all affected customers by early evening, the utility advised.

Find out what's happening in San Diegofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

— City News Service

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