‘Highest fire potential in 6 years': Santa Ana winds threaten San Diego County

The most severe Santa Ana winds of the season, so far, combined with drastically low humidity are expected to increase fire danger for Southern California this week, prompting a Red Flag Warning and potential power shut-offs for much of San Diego County.

A red flag warning for dangerous fire conditions will be in effect from 10 a.m. Monday until at least 4 a.m. Wednesday due to strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity. The warning extends to the coast, which is rare, although the areas most at risk include the inland valleys and mountains.

Gusts in San Diego's deserts and mountains were picking up into the mid-30s Monday afternoon. In the overnight hours, winds were expected to pick up rapidly, particularly in Pine Valley and along Interstate 8, NBC 7 Meteorologist Greg Bledsoe said.

"[Overnight] is looking like it could be the most critical window as far as winds are concerned," Bledsoe said. "We could see 60+mph gusts in Ramona and the I-8 corridor before and around sunrise."

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"Gusts 50 to 65 mph expected through favored passes and on mountain foothills, a few isolated gusts to 70 mph are possible Tuesday during the peak of the event in typically wind prone locations," the NWS said.

Santa Anas are dry, warm and gusty northeast winds that blow from the interior of Southern California toward the coast and offshore. They typically occur during the fall months and continue through winter and into early spring.

Due to the potential wildfire conditions, San Diego Gas & Electric issued a Public Safety Power Shutoff notification to nearly 17,500 customers from the mountains to the coast -- one of the largest shutoff warnings in recent years.

"What this event is telling us is that this is actually the highest fire potential we have seen in San Diego County in six years," SDG&E Meteorologist Brian D'Agostino said. "It's only the strongest Santa Ana winds that these winds make it all the way down to the coast."

The inland valley areas could see winds at 30-40 mph and gusts up to 60 mph Tuesday, with a mix of sunny and cloudy conditions and highs reaching the upper 70s. Mountain areas could also expect to see strong winds early in the week, with highs ranging in the low to upper 60s.

Coastal San Diego is expected to see patchy fog in the mornings through the week, with mostly partly cloudy conditions and highs in the mid-60s.

Monday's San Diego surf forecast includes a high-risk rip current, with surf height from 3 to 5 feet and mixed swell from 280 degrees and 220 degrees.

On Sunday, downtown San Diego experienced patchy fog before 10 a.m., with mostly sunny conditions and a high near 68. More patchy fog was expected after 10 p.m., with a low around 49.

Forecasters said marine conditions would include another round of low clouds and fog Sunday night into Monday, but should be less dense over the waters with better visibility and higher cloud bases.

"Increasing offshore winds on Tuesday with gusts up to 20-25kts, primarily for the northern San Diego County coast," the NWS said.

Residents, firefighters prepare amid fire danger

The Fairmount Fire in October burned on both sides of Montezuma Road, damaged a half dozen houses, caused evacuations and destroyed 40 acres. The scorched Earth stops at the very edge of many homes like Ian Gibson's.

“What’s lost is definitely your confidence in your neighborhood," the fire victim said. "This is where you live, and you have 40-foot flames licking at your back door."

Gibson remembers that day with high winds, dry conditions and a canyon full of years of unfettered vegetation growth.

"It was full of coyotes, quail, beautiful owls every evening," Gibson said. "Now, we are kind of left with the aftermath, so we still have a nice view, but we are looking at an absolute moonscape."

After that experience, Gibson gave his defensible space a makeover, which included cutting down trees, thinning the undergrowth and removing debris.

Cal Fire recommends a defensible space within 100 feet of your home or structure on your property. The first five feet should be clear of any landscape debris. The next 35-90 feet should be clear of any dry debris trash. Trim the trees and the landscape.

"The most important part of that 100 feet is the 0-5 feet around your home," Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette said.

Cornette says Cal Fire's 42 stations, bulldozer operators and hand crews are fully staffed for conditions that can be a wildfire recipe.

"We're experiencing a little bit of heat, some dry conditions and a Santa Ana wind," Cornette said.

But he says wildfire season lasts all year. They've fought major brush fires each month, so December is not expected to be any different.

Cal Fire says keep these things in mind while the red flag warning is in place:

• Focus on your evacuation plan and know where to go in time of emergency
• Have important documents together
• Have a go-bag ready, which should include a charger for your cellphone

For more evacuation preparedness tips, click here.