Santa Ana winds to raise wildfire threat across Southern California this weekend

By Brett Rathbun, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

September 23,2016; 10:01PM,EDT

 

 

Hot, dry weather this weekend will lead to an increased risk of wildfires across Southern California.
"A high pressure system moving into the Intermountain West will cause Santa Ana winds to develop across Southern California through the weekend," AccuWeather Meteorologist and firefighter Evan Duffey said.
Northeasterly winds will lead to hot and extremely dry weather along the southwest California coastline from San Diego to Los Angeles and Monterey.
Highs this weekend will generally reach into the 80s with some inland locations, including downtown Los Angeles, rising into the 90s. The higher temperatures will make it easier for the dry brush to ignite.
"The greatest threat for wildfires will be in and around Los Angeles and areas to the north toward Monterey," Duffey said.

This region missed out on any significant rainfall from Paine earlier this week.
With over 0.30 of an inch of rain falling in San Diego, the wildfire threat will not be as extreme.
"Due to the recent rainfall from Paine, the wildfire threat will not be as high around San Diego as it will be farther to the north," Duffey said.
Winds will still pose a threat even as they decrease from this past week.
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"During this weekend, the strongest winds will be in the valleys and canyons that are orientated northeast to southwest within 100 miles or so of the coast," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
Winds could gust between 20 and 30 mph at times.
Saturday will be the prime day for wildfire ignition as conditions become less favorable during the day Sunday and into Monday.
"Shifting winds progressing through the weekend will make fighting any fires that develop very challenging," Sosnowski said.
Four large fires continue to burn across California according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Over 528,000 acres have been burned so far this year across Southern California.