High winds across Southern California prompted a red flag warning Monday, putting fire crews on high alert for possible wildfires. In Los Angeles County, a red flag warning of critical fire danger conditions was scheduled to be in effect until 6 p.m ...

A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for San Diego County valleys and mountain communities including El Cajon, Escondido, Ramona and Julian for Wednesday and Thursday.

Powerful winds and extremely dry conditions across much of Southern California have forced red flag warnings from weather officials due to the heightened risk of fires.

Some gusts in Porter Ranch and the eastern Santa Monica Mountains hit 60 miles per hour, with Santa Monica and LAX recording winds in the 20 to 30 mph range.

A red flag warning issued across the Bay Area and Central Coast was extended to the Sacramento Valley. National Weather Service forecasters in Sacramento now say the red flag warning is in effect from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 4 p.m. Thursday through the southern Sacramento Valley and into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Although the Red Flag Warning was issued for only Friday, the threat of wildfires across the region will persist until the pattern switches back to wet. As of now, a pattern change does not look likely in the short term.

Fire danger is expected to increase in the region due to another round of Santa Ana winds on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Southern California residents are dealing with increased wildfire danger this week because of the Santa Ana winds. Red flag warnings went into effect Sunday night and will extend until 7 p.m. Monday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.