Crime & Safety

Red Flag Warning for Dry Santa Ana Winds, Thru Thursday Afternoon

The warning area includes the west end of the San Gorgonio Pass and the communities of Cabazon, Banning and Beaumont.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for dry Santa Ana winds and low humidities for Wednesday evening through Thursday afternoon.

The warning area includes the west end of the San Gorgonio Pass and the communities of Cabazon, Banning and Beaumont.

Regionally, red flag conditions were forecast for the mountains of San Bernardino County, the Inland Empire, the Santa Ana Mountains, and Orange County coastal areas, according to the Weather Service.

Find out what's happening in Banning-Beaumontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Wind prone areas will begin to dry out this evening with drying spreading to the valleys and coatal areas overnight," the Weather Service stated in an urgent fire weather message issued Wednesday morning.

Winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour with local gusts of 35 to 40 mph were expected overnight, the Weather Service advised.

Find out what's happening in Banning-Beaumontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Local gusts to 45 mph are possible in the windiest spots,"  the fire weather message stated.

Humidities will likely be in the 10 to 15 percent range by early Thursday, and winds should rapidly decrease by Thursday afternoon, according to the Weather Service. Weak offshore winds and dry conditions may persist through the weekend.

"A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now . . . or will shortly," the Weather Service cautioned. "A combination of strong winds . . . low relative humidity . . . and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential."


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