Gusty winds caused numerous power outages Tuesday in the eastern portion of San Diego County, prompting officials to shutter all schools in the Mountain Empire Unified School District.
A high wind warning is in effect until 4 p.m. Tuesday in the mountains and valleys, then a wind advisory will be in effect from 4 p.m. Tuesday until noon Thursday in the same areas.
Winds out of the east will be between 30 and 40 mph Tuesday, with gusts possibly reaching 75 mph near the foothills and portions of the adjacent valleys, forecasters said. The winds are expected to calm down late this afternoon to between 20-30 mph, with 55 mph gusts possible.
National Weather Service officials warned that winds could be strong enough to blow around unsecured objects and knock down tree limbs, potentially causing power outages.
Conditions will also be hazardous for high-profile vehicles traveling on highways through mountain passes.
Citing numerous power outages and hazardous travel conditions for buses in East County, the San Diego County Office of Education announced this morning that all schools in the Mountain Empire Unified School District will be closed Tuesday.
As of 8:25 a.m., 1,791 San Diego Gas & Electric customers were without power in the Guatay, Pine Valley, Descanso, Cuyamaca, Mount Laguna, Viejas and Green Valley Falls, according to the SDG&E online outage map. Those customers were expected to have power restored by noon Tuesday, according to SDG&E.
High temperatures Tuesday could reach 80 degrees near the coast and inland, 80 in the western valleys, 73 near the foothills, 64 in the mountains and 74 in the deserts.
Temperatures near the coast, in the inland valleys and in the deserts are expected to remain in the high-70s to mid-80s through Sunday, when a storm system is expected to arrive and bring showers throughout the county into Monday, forecasters said.
