High Wind Warning
Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph are expected along the coast
San Diego County CA— The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning effective 7:00am Friday February 17 to 2:00am, Saturday February 18, 2017. A high wind warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage.
A strong storm will approach the area from the Pacific on Friday, then move across Southern California Friday evening through Saturday. Winds will increase and become unusually strong out ahead of this storm. This will bring a period of damaging winds to the area, with the highest impact time being from 2 PM to Midnight on Friday.
Damaging southerly winds are expected Friday through Friday night. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph is expected from the coast to the valleys and across portions of the lower deserts. Wind gusts in the mountains and portions of the high deserts will exceed 70 mph. Even a period of high sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph is expected along the coast Friday afternoon into the evening. This will be a high impact wind event.
Winds will be west to southwest 15 to 30 mph with gusts of 45 mph and local gusts to 60 mph Friday morning through Friday evening. The Warning includes Orange County, San Diego County coast and valleys, the Inland Empire along with the Santa Ana mountains and foothills. The strong winds could topple trees and power lines and make for hazardous driving conditions for high profile vehicles. Tree limbs and other debris may fall onto roadways. Structural damage is possible.
The strongest winds will occur between 2:00 pm and midnight on Friday.
High Surf Warning
High surf Friday through Sunday at the Orange and San Diego County beaches with potentially damaging surf late Saturday through early Sunday.
A large, long-period west-northwest swell will create high surf along the beaches Friday through the weekend. The highest surf is expected Saturday afternoon through early Sunday with potentially damaging surf of 15 feet. The high surf could also cause minor coastal flooding during times of high tide. Powerful rip currents will occur with these swells as well.