Southern California braces for a hammering with the onslaught of gusty Santa Ana winds set to hit the region this Friday, ramping up through Saturday and looking to ease up by Sunday. According to the National Weather Service San Diego, the winds are expected to peak on Saturday, bringing along plummeting humidity levels—a brutal combination that sets the stage for "elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions."
(1/2) Gusty Santa Ana winds will increase Friday, peak Saturday, and weaken into Sunday. Daytime relative humidity on Saturday will fall to 10 to 15 percent Saturday and 7 to 10 percent by Sunday. Elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions expected. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/zE9ZZtgscy
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) December 7, 2023
As the winds gear up to fiercely descend upon the inland valleys and hills, the humidity is predicted to drop drastically, sliding to a meager 10 to 15 percent on Saturday and plunging even further to a parched 7 to 10 percent by Sunday. Residents in the Inland Empire are counseled to remain alert as fire weather conditions threaten to approach, if not outright surpass, critical levels Saturday afternoon, sparking serious concerns over potential wildfire risks.
In response to the impending windy siege, a Fire Weather Watch has been swiftly issued for parts of the Inland Empire, spanning the duration of Saturday through mid-day Sunday. This alert serves as a grim reminder of the area's vulnerability to wildfires, especially under the siege of Santa Ana winds that have historically fanned the flames of many destructive fires in Southern California. The watch, issued by the National Weather Service, underscores the severity of the risk in the coming days.
The NWS San Diego report cautions that although the winds are expected to gradually weaken after their Saturday peak, the period of concern is far from over. Residents are urged to exercise extreme caution, carrying out preventive measures such as clearing dead foliage and maintaining defensible space around properties to mitigate the risk of fire outbreaks. With these conditions colliding, it is crucial to actively prepare and stay vigilant against any spark that could potentially set ablaze the drought-stricken landscape.
