Red Flag warning signaling risk of wildfire now in effect

SAN DIEGO – A red flag warning signaling a heightened risk of wildfire is in effect for San Diego County's valleys and mountain areas through the weekend.

The red flag warning – the most serious fire-related warning issued by the National Weather Service – went into effect at 2 a.m. today and will be in effect through 8 p.m. Sunday, according to the agency.

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or will be occurring shortly. Those conditions include strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures.

A moderate strength Santa Ana wind event this weekend will bring sustained winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour and gusts up to 45 mph, an NWS advisory said.

Relative humidity is expected to be no greater than 15 percent by noon Friday, and temperatures are expected to be in the high 80s in the inland valleys and mostly in the high 70s in the mountains.