NWS Issues Red Flag Warning

SAN DIEGO -- The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for high winds and fire danger for much of inland San Diego County.

Strong winds have already hit los Angeles County, National Weather forecaster Jim Purpura.

Purpura reported 50 mph winds through Fremont Canyon in Orange County Sunday, and said the winds are not expected in San Diego County until early Monday.

"The winds will pick up and stay relatively low (in San Diego County)," Purpura said.

The forecaster said the humidity should drop significantly, which will increase fire danger.

The Red Flag Warning is expected to expire at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

A red flag warning is declared when strong winds combine with dry conditions to create what the NWS calls "explosive fire growth potential."

Northeast winds are expected Monday to blow at 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 60 mph through and below passes and canyons, according to the NWS.

Highs Monday will be in the low 80s in coastal, valley and desert areas, and the high 60s in the mountains, forecasters said.

Armed with a new ability to call for military helicopters to assist firefighting efforts, CalFire officials are bringing equipment from seven California counties as Santa Ana winds loom to hit early Monday.

CalFire Capt. Nick Schuler said the state agency has two Marine helicopters on standby, and has requested two additional firefighting helicopters from the Navy. Schular started with the military earlier this year.

In addition, the Marines and Navy ordered additional chopper crews to standby in case another fire storm developed as hot, dry and fierce Santa Ana winds moved into San Diego County Sunday night.

If fires strike, CalFire will put a fire boss on board a San Diego County sheriff's helicopter to coordinate the military helicopters. Military and civilian choppers now have common radio frequencies and have drilled together for joint operations, hoping to bolster helicopter resources that proved woefully inadequate during last year's disastrous fire season.

In addition to the military, trucks and firefighters from San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Ventura, Kern, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties will be in San Diego County as viciously-hot Santa Ana winds are predicted, Schuler said.

Each county is bringing heavy equipment, and Ventura and Santa Barbara counties are lending choppers, as the threat is predicted to have passed there, Schuler said.

In addition, CalFire has five engines for a total of 31 engines on standby, according to Schuler. In most of San Diego County, CalFire serves as backup to the patchwork of local firefighting agencies.

Click HERE for the latest advisories issued by the National Weather Service. Click on the map for location closest to where you are.