Red Flag Warning Issued In Temecula For Dry, Gusty Conditions
TEMECULA, CA — On the heels of a windstorm that caused fires across Southern California and spurred power outages for many in Riverside County this week, more dry winds were expected to sweep through Temecula, weather officials said.
A red flag warning was in effect until Friday at 11 a.m. for Temecula and Riverside County mountain communities, the National Weather Service said.
Strong, gusty winds and low humidity was expected for the area, which could trigger more critical fire weather this evening and Friday. A combination of gusts, dry weather and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior, the agency warned.
In Temecula, southerly winds of 5 to 10 mph will turn north after midnight.
An air quality alert was also in effect through Friday for Temecula and much of Riverside County as wildfires rage across Southern California, carrying smoke into nearby communities, weather officials said.
"Ps in smoke can get deep into the lungs and cause health problems (including asthma attacks), increases in emergency room visits, and hospitalizations," The NWS warned.
On Thursday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a mandatory wood-burning ban for residents across the region. This means that burning wood, pellets and manufactured fire logs in any indoor or outdoor space is strictly prohibited to protect public health.
To check the air quality in your neighborhood, check out this map .
Here are some tips to stay safe when the air quality is impacted by ash and smoke, according to AQMD :
The news comes as over 13,500 Riverside County Southern California Edison customers went dark Thursday morning, and almost 70,000 more were under consideration for the same as the utility initiated its Power Safety Shutoff Measures due to the growing Santa Ana winds.
The power shutoff in Southwest Riverside County, Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, Winchester, and Hemet began at approximately 3 p.m. and would remain that way during the Power Safety Shutoff precaution. More homes and businesses in the Pass Area and western portions of the county were also affected by the outage or were in projected shutoff zones. Read more about the windstorm shutoffs here .
