Temecula Under Rare Purple Warning: 75 MPH Winds Forecast Nearby

TEMECULA, CA — Firefighting agencies across Riverside County were on high alert Thursday as the Santa Ana winds driving four major wildfires in Southern California were expected to gain strength, with gusts up to 75 mph, and create extreme fire danger.

While the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the region, the Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index (SAWTI) — which categorizes Santa Ana winds based on anticipated fire potential — put the Inland Empire and Orange County areas into a rare "purple" zone, meaning the highest of all fire potentials.

"The fire potential with this Santa Ana event is Extreme," the SAWTI forecast stated Thursday. "Northeast winds of 20-45 mph can be expected with gusts exceeding 75 mph over the higher terrain and in the more wind prone areas. Humidity will be in the 5-15% range. Fires will spread very rapidly through all fuel types. Any new fires will have a high probability of becoming large in a short period of time."

The NWS says strong gusts are expected throughout Thursday. Cal Fire officials said the Southern California region is bracing for "epic winds ... and extremely dry conditions."

Those were the same conditions driving a trio of fires in the Los Angeles area that had burned about 20,000 acres as of Thursday morning, as well as Thomas Fire in Ventura County, which had burned at least 90,000 acres.

The red flag and high wind warnings both covered the Riverside metropolitan area, the Riverside County valleys and mountains, and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning. The high wind warning also was in effect in Corona, Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Banning and Desert Hot Springs. Neither a red flag warning nor a high wind warning were issued for the Coachella Valley, where mild weather was expected to continue through the end of the week.

Of the areas expected to be hit hard by the winds, the NWS said:

"Power outages and minor property damage could occur with these strong winds. In addition to the potential for damage, pockets of blowing dust could contribute to hazardous driving and traffic headaches, with the potential greatest in the valleys and foothills this morning through early to mid afternoon.

Santa Ana winds will decrease late this afternoon through [Thursday] evening as the gradients relax. Some gusty Santa Ana winds are likely again late tonight into Friday morning but not nearly as strong as what we are expecting [Thursday]."

Helping somewhat to mitigate the fire danger in Riverside County and elsewhere in Southern California have been the relatively mild temperatures. High temperatures Thursday will be 69 to 77 degrees in Riverside and the Inland Empire, 52 to 59 in the mountains and 67 to 72 at the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning and Desert Hot Springs.

But the fire threat this week doesn't come from high temperatures. Instead, it's the strong winds combined with dry vegetation and humidity levels expected to be in the 5 to 15 percent range.

On Friday, the Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index forecast the Inland Empire to be the in the "yellow" — or marginal fire risk — zone.

The NWS warned residents to "avoid activities that could spark a fire" and warned of the dangers of high winds that include power outages and damaged or toppled trees or power lines.

SEE ALSO:

SoCal Fires: 60K Fire Evacuees At Mercy Of Raging Santa Ana Winds

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— City News Service contributed to this report / Image via Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index