Weather Service Warns of Strong Winds in Mountains and Deserts

Gusty winds blowing through the mountains and deserts in San Diego County were expected to continue through late Saturday night, then become even stronger, forecasters said.

Areas of west winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts of up to 50 mph are expected through Saturday night. Sunday night through Monday evening, winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour are expected with gusts that could reach up to 70 mph in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.

“Onshore flow will maintain locally gusty west winds in the mountains and deserts through late tonight,” according to the weather service. “A cold low-pressure system moving from the Great Basin into the Southwest states will bring stronger onshore flow and west winds in the mountains and deserts for Sunday night into Monday evening.”

The NWS issued a wind advisory, set to extend until 3 a.m. Sunday. A more severe high-wind watch is scheduled to go into effect Sunday afternoon, as winds intensify.

“A low-pressure system will deepen over the Great Basin Sunday into
Monday,” the NWS statement said. “This will bring strong and potentially damaging west to northwest winds to the mountains and deserts of Southern California Sunday afternoon through Monday.”

The wind could make driving in desert areas difficult. Visibility could be reduced by blowing sand and dust, forecasters said.

The wind could also be strong enough to down tree limbs. Drivers of high-profile vehicles were also advised to use extra caution, the NWS said.

The National Weather Service forecast for Ramona:

Saturday night: Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 50. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable.

Sunday: Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 71. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Sunday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 48. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the evening.

Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 11am. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 61. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Monday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. West wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northeast 5 to 10 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

-City News Service