As Southern California braces for moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds early this week, the National Weather Service San Diego issues a Red Flag Warning to alert residents of critical fire weather conditions. According to the forecast, areas across the western valleys, inland Orange County, and adjacent mountains will experience gusts reaching peak speeds of 35 to 45 mph, with mountain areas, foothills, and passes hitting a more severe 50 to 65 mph, and potentially 70 mph in wind-prone locations on Tuesday. The driest conditions, with relative humidity plummeting to a stark 5-10%, are expected predominantly west of the mountains.

The Red Flag Warning spans from Monday morning to the early hours of Wednesday morning, marking an extended period of elevated risk. As reported by the National Weather Service San Diego, an upper-level trough digging into the Intermountain West is anticipated to induce this offshore pressure gradient. In tandem, this wind event carries very dry air, especially on Tuesday when the winds align easterly, a recipe for what experts deem critical fire weather conditions.

Residents in the indicated areas are urged to exercise caution and prepare for possible emergencies. Details from the National Weather Service underscore that "low humidity, strong winds, and dry fuels will lead to critical fire weather conditions from Monday through Wednesday morning, highest risk on Tuesday." Furthermore, despite winds weakening come Wednesday, inland areas will still grapple with low afternoon humidity ranging from 5-20%, with substantial recovery not expected until Thursday night.

Current weather patterns along the coast are less hostile, with the region anticipating cooler conditions and possible low clouds or patchy fog lingering through early Monday. However, the marine atmosphere will notably shift by Tuesday as the offshore winds strengthen, particularly impacting the northern San Diego County coast with gusts up to 20-25 knots, which could result in restricted visibility and complicated boating conditions.