THE SEASONAL SANTA ANA WINDS RETURN to Southern California today in what meteorologists predict will be the most severe season in a decade.

The hot, dry winds are expected to touch hurricane-strength at times and will cause major concerns for all firefighting resources.  Along with the winds will be extremely high temperatures exacerbating the wildfire dangers.  “Red Flag” warnings have been raised in the entire region.

Accu-Weather image

The San Diego Union-Tribune REPORTS:

“The weather will be conducive to explosive fire growth,” said Rob Balfour, a forecaster and fire-incident meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Rancho Bernardo office. “It’ll be very similar to 2003, in strength and duration.”

Sustained Santa Ana winds should reach 20 mph to 40 mph, and gusts could hit 60 mph to 70 mph in county canyons and passes. By Monday morning, when the winds are expected to peak, humidity levels should fall below 10 percent and stay in single digits for a couple of days. The inland valleys could reach 95 degrees.

Much of Southern California, with the exception of coastal zones and deserts, will be under a red-flag warning from (Sunday) morning through Tuesday afternoon. The warning signifies extreme fire danger because of a combination of strong winds, low humidity and high temperatures.

“The best way to describe it is we plan for the worst and hope for the best,” said Ray Chaney, battalion chief for the San Diego unit of the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. “We’re planning on this being a significant event.”

Crewman prepares to shuttle “helitanker”
to Ramona Air Base.  Union-Tribune photo

The department repositioned two air tankers and a “helitanker” to the Ramona Air Attack Base on Monday to complement two tankers already there. Chaney said recent storms in the Western United States and Northern California reduced the fire danger there and made the aircrafts’ transfer possible.

The first fire on this event started around 9:40 pm (Pacific time) last night in the northeast corner of Los Angeles County near Castaic.  The fire, whipped by winds of 50 mph, has consumed over 500 acres so far and is not yet under control.

The first fire of the Santa Ana event has
consumed over 500 acres by this morning.
AP photo

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