Santa Ana winds; high fire danger

Santa Ana winds; high fire danger

(Nov. 25) Moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds will start on Thanksgiving. There will be high fire danger due to strong winds and low humidity, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service San Diego office social media posts included these messages: “Get prepared now! Pack an emergency kit and avoid using equipment that could cause a spark! … and bring flammable items indoors.”

Starting Thanksgiving Day in Southern California, moderate to strong Santa Ana winds, combined with critically low humidity, will result in high fire danger.

A Red Flag Warning will be in effect from 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, to 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. Expect Santa Ana winds and low humidity. Wind s are forecast north to northeast 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph Thursday night into Friday, then becoming northeast 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph Friday afternoon and evening with isolated stronger gusts.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

Humidity will fall Thursday night with the lowest daytime humidity on Friday and Saturday at 8 to 12 percent. The strongest winds Thursday night and Friday.

Weaker winds will continue into Sunday and Monday. A slow recovery in humidity for inland areas could begin on Monday.

Due to a Red Flag Warning  issued by the National Weather Service, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has notified approximately 2,700 customers in the communities of Alpine, Campo Reservation, Crestwood, Descanso, Julian, La Posta Reservation, Manzanita Reservation, Pala, Santa Ysabel, Santa Ysabel Reservation, Valley Center and Viejas Reservation, that it may have to turn off power in order to reduce wildfire risk beginning early Friday morning. 

Several hundred SDG&E linemen, troubleshooters and support personnel will be working on Thanksgiving Day and through the holiday weekend to ensure that power can be restored as quickly and as safely as possible, should safety power shutoffs occur. In preparation, SDG&E has activated its Emergency Operations Center to monitor conditions 24/7 and has organized personnel and pre-staged materials and equipment for response.

A list of areas at risk, along with information on Community Resource Centers that may be available in affected areas, can be found at sdge.com/ready. SDG&E will continue to provide customers with updates via phone, text messages, email, social media, sdge.com, and the Alerts by SDG&E mobile app. Customers who are notified should be prepared to make alternative arrangements for holiday celebrations and have emergency resources at hand to keep their family and pets safe.