Fire Weather Watch Takes Effect Sunday as Agencies Eye Conditions

Strong, gusty winds and low humidity could increase the risk for wildfires starting Sunday throughout the mountain and valley areas of the Inland Empire, the National Weather Service said Saturday.

The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch to remain in effect from Sunday morning to Monday afternoon for the county’s inland valleys and mountain areas including the Palomar and Descanso ranger districts of the Cleveland National Forest.

The watch is set to go into effect for coastal areas, including around Interstate 5, at 7 p.m. Sunday and remain in effect until 4 p.m. Monday, the agency said.

“A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur,” the advisory stated. “Listen for later forecasts and possible red flag warnings.”

High pressure over the northern part of the state is expected to combine with building surface pressure over the Great Basin to lead to a favorable weather pattern for weak to moderate Santa Ana winds.

Northeast winds of 10 to 15 miles per hour with gusts up to 25 mph in coastal areas and 35 mph in the mountains and valleys are likely after 1 a.m.
Sunday. Eastern winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts of up to 45 mph are expected Sunday night and Monday, according to the weather service.

Forecasters expected relative humidity to be very low and live fuel moisture levels to remain below critical values.

Relative humidity is expected to increase Monday evening, but gusts of more than 35 mph could blow across mountain areas until Tuesday evening,
according to the agency.

—City News Service