Strongest Santa Ana winds this winter expected Monday night in San Diego County

San Diego Gas & Electric began turning off power in San Diego County’s backcountry Monday to minimize that chances that sparks from its power lines could trigger a wildfire in the midst of deepening drought and powerful Santa Ana winds.

Through 1:45 p.m., 932 customers had lost power, and another 82,693 were on notice that the same could happen to them. The first outages occurred in Boulevard, Descanso, Campo and Warner Springs. (Here are outage updates.)

At roughly the same time, firefighters were attacking a 2-acre wildfire in Poway near the intersection of Ted Williams Parkway and Pomerado Road, authorities said.

Forecasters say that cold Santa Anas winds have started to arrive in the eastern mountains and foothills in what could turn out to be the worst storm of the winter locally.

“Santa Ana winds with gusts of 40-60 mph will develop across mountains and foothills (with) locally higher gusts of 60-80 mph plus across the usual wind-prone locations …,” the weather service said in a statement. “Moderate to strong Santa Ana winds will develop by this afternoon and continue through Tuesday evening.

“A second, weaker Santa Ana event is expected on Thursday and Friday. There is a chance of precipitation next Saturday through Monday.”

As of 1:30 p.m. Monday, the wind had gusted to 50 mph at Hauser Mountain south of Interstate 8 near Campo, 48 mph at Sill Hill in the Cuyamaca Mountains, 37 mph of East Willows Road along I-8, 37 mph at Moreno Dam, 36 mph at Sunshine Summit, 33 mph at Camp Pendleton, 30 mph near Julian,  26 mph at Otay Mountain and 25 mph at Ramona. Forecasters say the winds have made it all the way to the coast in Del Mar, Carlsbad and Oceanside.

Forecasters said the third major windstorm this month could cause widespread tree damage and make driving in the local mountains difficult, especially along I-8, state Route 76 and state Route 78, and the county’s northwest stretches of Interstate 15.

Moderate to strong Santa Ana winds will develop by this afternoonand continue through Tuesday evening. A second, weaker Santa Anaevent is expected on Thursday and Friday. There is a chance ofprecipitation next Saturday through Monday.

A red flag fire weather warning is in effect from 8 a.m. Monday to 10 p.m. Tuesday for areas east of Interstate 15. Forecasters and first responders are concerned that flash fires in the backcountry could spread west toward more populated areas.

San Diego International Airport has recorded only 0.14 inches of precipitation since Oct. 1, when the rainy season began. That’s 4.11 inches below normal. The city is experiencing the driest rainy season since 1850.

The utility has stationed staffers in canyons and on peaks to watch for trouble. It also will closely monitor the 134 live wildfire cameras that UC San Diego’s AlertCalifornia network is operating across the county.

Originally Published: January 20, 2025 at 5:01 AM PST