UPDATE 3:30 p.m. Fire Warning Extended Until Tuesday Afternoon
Prevailing windy and dry atmospheric conditions were expected to keep the wildfire danger high in the San Diego area through late Tuesday afternoon, meteorologists advised on Monday. The alert is slated to expire at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The National Weather Service also put out a less serious wind advisory for the same period, cautioning that the blustery conditions could topple trees and make driving hazardous in some East County locales.
Original post:
Strong northeast winds coupled with drier than normal conditions threatened to fuel a wildfire in the valleys and mountains of San Diego County Monday, meteorologists said.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for valley and mountain areas until 8 p.m. The warning did not extend into coastal or desert areas.
According to the Weather Service, the lowest daytime humidity will be around 5 percent in valley and mountains areas Monday. The agency also said sustained 20 to 30 mile per hour winds and widespread gusts up to 45 mph were likely in those areas.
A red flag warning is the Weather Service's most serious fire-related warning. It is issued whenever conditions exist that could contribute to extreme fire behavior in the region.
A less-serious wind advisory for valley and mountains areas was also scheduled until 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to the weather service.
A wind advisory means winds that could make driving difficult are occurring or are about to occur.
