SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Gusty conditions will start off the weekend in the San Diego area Friday, creating a potential for wind damage and roadway hazards.
Breezy, dry winds will be the main threat into the weekend as gusts up to 45 mph begin Friday evening. A Wind Advisory will take effect at 10:00 p.m. on Friday and continue through 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. This will apply to San Diego County inland valleys and mountains, but other spots on the map will still see elevated gusts at times. Sustained speeds are expected to increase to the 15 to 25 mph range.
With a strong ridge of high pressure overhead, a nearby low pressure system will sink in and tighten pressure gradients. When gradients tighten, wind develops. This will prompt strong offshore winds directed from the northeast toward the southwest. Rather than the cool, humid air from the coast, this will be dry, warm air from Nevada and Arizona.
Winds will begin to die down on Saturday evening, shortly after the Wind Advisory expires. Although areas to the north of San Diego County can expect more intense wind gusts, Wind Advisories pose the threat for unsecured object likes trash bins and patio furniture to blow around. It can also present a risk for high profile vehicles, especially over mountain passes.
Santa Ana Wind Gust Forecast:
The strongest winds will impact the coastal mountain slopes, foothills and valley floors. Santa Ana winds will subside Saturday night through Sunday. Here's a look at the timeline of how gusty winds will be over the weekend:
Notice red and purple tones -- indicating upwards of 40 mph gusts -- begin to die down by Sunday.
For the weekend in general, temperatures will rest around average, if not slightly above average. Expect mostly sunny conditions with highs in the upper 60s and low 70s.
Into next week, conditions will be quiet and steady. A dry airmass will linger over the region. Expect mostly clear days as daytime highs peak near seasonal along the coast and a few degrees warmer than usual for the inland valleys.
