SAN DIEGO (CNS) -- Unseasonably hot temperatures and strong Santa Ana winds continued Friday in San Diego County, raising the threat of wildfires and prompting power shutoffs for nearly 14,000 homes and businesses in a bid to prevent wildfires.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning that was in effect until 5 p.m. Friday in the mountains and valleys.
Sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph are expected, but gusts could reach 65 mph near mountain ridge tops and 75 mph at Sill Hill. Daytime humidity could drop as low as 5%.
10NEWS PINPOINT WEATHER RESOURCES
High temperatures Friday reached 90 degrees near the coast, 98 inland, 99 in the western valleys, 92 near the foothills, 80 in the mountains and 90 in the deserts. A heat advisory was in effect until 5 p.m. Friday in coastal areas and the inland valleys.
The strong winds will continue through Friday afternoon, then begin subsiding, forecasters said.
The predicted Santa Ana winds initially prompted San Diego Gas & Electric to notify roughly 24,000 customers of potential power shutoffs for safety reasons, but as of Friday morning that number had increased to just over 42,000.
As of 3 p.m. Friday, power was shut off for some 13,000 customers in Alpine, Boulevard, Campo, Cuyamaca, Descanso, Dulzura, Poway, Valley Center, Guatay, Jacumba, Julian, Pauma Valley/Cuca Ranch, Pine Valley, Potrero, Ramona, Warner Springs, and Santa Ysabel.
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According to SDG&E, power was estimated to be restored for the affected communities by 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The San Diego County Office of Education, citing the SDG&E power shutoffs, closed schools Friday in these districts:
Julian Union High School District
Julian Union School District
Mountain Empire Unified School District
Spencer Valley School District
Warner Unified School District
SDG&E will open community resource centers from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the duration of any potential outages. The centers will be available for residents to get water and snacks, charge their phones and get updated information on the outages.
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The centers will be located at the following locations:
Descanso Branch Library: 9545 River Dr, Descanso
Whispering Winds Catholic Camp: 17606 Harrison Park Road, Julian
Pine Valley Improvement Club: 28890 Old Highway 80, Pine Valley
Potrero Community Center: 24550 Hwy 94, Potrero
Dulzura Community Center: 1136 Community Building Road, Dulzura
Warner Springs Resource Center: 30950 CA-79, Warner Springs
Ramona Branch Library: 1275 Main St., Ramona
Valley Center Branch Library: 29200 Cole Grade Road, Valley Center
Updated information on SDG&E's Public Safety Power Shutoff can be found at sdge.com/wildfire-safety/public-safety-power-shutoffs.
