Southern California is bracing for a period of strong Santa Ana winds this week, with gusts impacting mountain slopes, foothills, valleys, and parts of the coast, according to the National Weather Service. Starting late Tuesday, November 5, and continuing through Thursday, powerful north to northeast winds will sweep across the region. San Diego and Orange County valleys could see gusts exceeding 30 mph, prompting heightened fire danger.
This isn’t a typical warm Santa Ana event; temperatures will be below average, with highs in the 60s to mid-70s west of the mountains. The High Desert will experience a sharp drop, with highs plunging from the 70s to the 50s. Calmer conditions are expected by the weekend, with temperatures rebounding to near-normal levels and a deepening marine layer bringing low coastal clouds at night. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and take precautions against fire hazards.