San Diego County faces gusts up to 70 mph and coastal temperatures in the mid-90s as the season's first Santa Ana wind event peaks Friday, Oct. 16.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a high wind warning for inland valleys and mountains and a heat advisory for coastal San Diego County communities. The heat advisory runs from 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, through 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, according to Patch. NWS San Diego said on X that Friday would be the windiest day, with breezy conditions reaching coastal areas.
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) said it does not expect to order preventive power shutoffs during this event, citing recent rainfall and increased moisture in vegetation, CBS 8 reported. Unplanned outages remain possible if wind-blown debris damages power lines or equipment. SDG&E said its crews are prepared to respond.
Cal Fire Captain Josh Cormode told CBS 8 the agency has added staff and positioned extra engines across the county for rapid response. Despite recent rain, he said vegetation remains dangerously dry across Southern California.
"If a fire starts anywhere in San Diego with these winds, we can expect to see an extremely fast-moving fire that can cause a lot of destruction," Cormode said.
Henderson Fire adds regional urgency
The danger is not hypothetical. The Henderson Fire broke out at 2:35 p.m. Thursday at Camp Pendleton near Henderson Street and Brown Street, CBS 8 reported. By 8:14 p.m. it had exploded from 10 acres to 1,404 acres with zero containment, according to Cal Fire's incident page. The Camp Pendleton Fire Department has jurisdiction, and the cause remains under investigation.
Authorities ordered evacuations in the Las Flores area of the base and temporarily closed Interstate 5 in both directions between Harbor Drive and Basilone Road. Both the evacuation order and the highway closure were lifted Thursday evening, though officials warned I-5 could close again if conditions require it.
The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District issued a smoke advisory for southern Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Carlsbad and Vista. Northeast winds were expected to push smoke southwest toward the ocean Thursday night, CBS 8 reported.
How to prepare
Cal Fire is urging residents to keep a go bag packed with a three-day supply of non-perishable food, three gallons of water per person, medications, important documents and pet supplies. Secure loose outdoor items such as patio furniture and trash bins.
Residents can check evacuation information through Genasys Protect and sign up for emergency alerts at AlertSanDiego.org. San Diego County's 33 Cool Zone locations, including branch libraries and community centers, offer air-conditioned shelter during the heat advisory.
Anyone who loses power can check SDG&E's online outage map for updates and estimated restoration times.
