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Pacific Storm Unexpectedly Changes Path and Will Largely Miss San Diego County Friday and Saturday

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Gary Robbins

A Pacific storm that was expected to drench San Diego County late Friday and early Saturday is turning away from the region and won’t deliver rain that’s needed to help reduce the risk of wildfires ahead of Santa Ana winds next week, the National Weather Service said.

Forecasters originally thought the system would drop about 0.70 inches of rain west of Interstate 15 and as much as an inch in the valleys, foothills and mountains to the east.

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More Evidence That California Weather is Trending Toward Extremes

/in , , /by /UC San Diegoby Robert Monroe

A team led by Kristen Guirguis, a climate researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, found evidence that the risk of hazardous weather is increasing in the Southwest.

The researchers investigated the daily relationships among four major modes of weather affecting California. How they interact governs the formation of weather events such as atmospheric rivers capable of bringing torrential rains and Santa Ana winds that can spread devastating wildfires.

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Record Temperatures Forecast as Winter Heatwave Heads for California

/in , , /by /The Guardianby Dani Anguiano

An unusual winter heatwave is expected across California this week with record temperatures in the forecast for multiple cities from the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles.

In Southern California, where temperatures are predicted to be 15 to 20 degrees above normal from Wednesday morning through Sunday, the National Weather Service upgraded a heat watch to a heat advisory.

The heat watch and advisory were the first to be issued by the Los Angeles weather office in the month of February, according to records dating to 2006. Most heat watches and warnings in the area are issued from May through October.

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Warm, Dry Santa Ana Winds Return to Southern California as Drought Drags On

/in , , /by /VC Starby Cheri Carlson

Santa Ana winds returned to Ventura County this week, bringing back dry, breezy and warm conditions but little fire risk.

Peak Santa Ana wind season typically runs from October through January, and without enough rain, fire season can drag on. This year, however, December storms drenched the region, dampening the threat of large wildfires.

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California’s Changing Climate Gives New Fuel to Fire Season

/in /by /Bloomberg Greenby Mark Chediak and Brian K Sullivan

California’s changing climate has pushed fire season to new lengths, triggering once-rare winter blackouts. State utilities cut power to more than 72,000 homes and businesses Tuesday in a preemptive effort to prevent live wires from sparking wildfires as Santa Ana winds threaten to fan flames. Blazes are breaking out nonetheless, including in Santa Cruz County, where two fires are prompting evacuations.

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Does a Dry Fall in Los Angeles Always Lead to a Parched, Fire-Prone Winter?

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Paul Duginski

After a summer of record heat and California’s worst fire season in history, Santa Ana winds have repeatedly buffeted the Southland during a critically dry autumn. Will this warm, dry weather pattern finally come to an end, or will it continue through the winter?

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Santa Ana Winds Expected in San Diego County Mountains, Valleys this Week

/in , /by /KPBS-FM/TVby City News Service

Santa Ana winds will return amid dry conditions this week, significantly raising the risk of wildfires in the San Diego County mountains and western valleys, according to the National Weather Service.

Moderate strength winds were expected Tuesday in the mountains, forecasters said. Winds out of the east were expected to be around 15 mph, with gusts potentially reaching 30 mph Tuesday afternoon.

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Fall in Southern California Begins the Race Between Rains and Santa Ana Winds

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Paul Duginski

The autumn equinox was at 6:30 a.m. PDT on Tuesday, meaning there are nearly equal periods of daylight and darkness. From now until the winter solstice in December, days will gradually get shorter and nights will get longer in the Northern Hemisphere.

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As California Burns, the Winds Arrive and the Lights Go Out

/in , , /by /AP Newsby Marcio Jose Sanchez and Christopher Weber

New wildfires ravaged bone-dry California during a scorching Labor Day weekend that saw a dramatic airlift of more than 200 people trapped by flames and ended with the state’s largest utility turning off power to 172,000 customers to try to prevent its power lines and other equipment from sparking more fires.

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Unusual Santa Ana Winds Smash Heat Records Across San Diego County

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Gary Robbins

Strong Santa Ana winds — weather that rarely occurs in June — sent temperatures soaring more than 20 degrees above normal Tuesday across San Diego County, smashing or tying records from the coast to the foothills.

“The numbers were amazing,” said Mark Moede, a forecaster at the National Weather Service.

San Diego International Airport hit 93 degrees, which is 24 degrees above normal. Chula Vista reached 92 and Encinitas hit 90.

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