An uptick in Santa Ana winds Wednesday afternoon through Thursday, combined with critically dry vegetation and low humidity, will result in elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions in County through late Thursday.

Santa Ana winds finally delivered a big, direct hit on San Diego County Tuesday, gusting as high as 102 mph in the backcountry where a touch of long-overdue rain could arrive this weekend.

With the strongest of the winds in the inland valleys and mountains of San Diego County on Monday night through Tuesday morning, the highest wind gusts of 102 mph were recorded in Sill Hill, near Julian. This is a typical wind-prone area in the mountains known for exceptionally high wind gusts, offshore and onshore.

Santa Ana winds will continue whipping through Southern California through Thursday, sparking fears that progress made fighting wildfires that have scorched over 40,000 acres and left 28 dead could be reversed and more blazes could break out.

San Diego County expects rain and mountain snow after severe Santa Ana winds and wildfires across Southern California, marking a hopeful turn in a dry water year.

Wildfires in Southern California prompt evacuations and school closures as Santa Ana winds exacerbate conditions. Communities remain on high alert.- Watch Video on English Oneindia

Residents of San Diego County are facing evacuation orders Tuesday as the Lilac Fire and Pala Fire have broken out in the region, officials say.

It feels a bit like deja vu but Southern California is stuck in a weather pattern that has consistently brought the threat of powerful Santa Ana winds and fire danger.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Much of inland San Diego County was whipped yet again by a strong Santa Ana wind event Monday into Tuesday, contributing to risky fire conditions as the region remains ...

The National Weather Service has extended a Red Flag Warning until Friday morning for San Diego County's inland valleys and mountains.

Over 1,100 firefighters were “strategically pre-positioned” across Southern California to address "ongoing critical fire weather," Cal Fire said.