Hippy Dippy Weatherman dishes SD Red Flag Warning

Well, folks, it’s time to batten down your flip-flops and hold onto your headbands because San Diego County is under a Red Flag Warning!

That’s meteorologist-speak for ‘Mother Nature’s about to get rowdy.’ Dry, cranky Santa Ana winds have rolled into town, and they’re bringing their buddies—low humidity, high temps, and plants that are basically kindling at this point. Talk about a party you don’t wanna be at.

Here’s the scoop, my wind-watching friends: some of those breezy little beach towns like Del Mar and Encinitas are about to get a taste of nature’s hairdryer—yep, the Santa Ana winds are back, and they’re not messin’ around. SDG&E’s main meteorological guru, Brian D’Agostino—who sounds like he should be selling pasta, not forecasting fire weather—says these winds are serious business. We’re talking the kind of gusts that don’t just tickle the treetops but go full-on coastal kamikaze.

The National Weather Service, bless their buzzkill hearts, threw out the warning over the weekend, and it officially hit the scene at 10 a.m. Monday. It’s sticking around till early Wednesday morning, so cancel those plans to roast marshmallows in the backyard.

Red Flag Santa Ana wind weather warning area/National Weather Service

Tuesday’s when these winds really let loose. Most places will see gusts around 20 to 30 miles per hour, but out in the valleys, they’re going full speed freak—up to 60 miles per hour. Pair that with some Sahara-level dryness, a sun with attitude, and plants just itching to combust, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for what we in the business call ‘Holy crap, that fire’s moving fast!’

Overnight? No help there, folks. The plants are staying crispy, and the winds are pulling an all-nighter.

Meanwhile, San Diego Gas & Electric—our friendly neighborhood switch-flippers—have been sending out love notes to over 117,500 customers. They’re saying, ‘Hey, don’t freak out, but we might kill your power. You know, just in case things get a little sparky.’ Cell providers are jumping on the bandwagon too, warning you your phone might go dark for a bit.

So, there you have it—hot, dry, and windy with a side of don’t play with matches. This has been your Hippy Dippy Weatherman saying, ‘Stay groovy, but maybe do it near a fire extinguisher.

Meteorologist Sebastian Westerink over in San Diego—our resident weather oracle—says this one’s a solid ‘moderate event.’ Translation: we’re talking gusts up to 80 mph in those wind-friendly corridors of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Over in San Diego’s mountain passes, it’s a breezy 65 mph. You know, just enough to make your umbrella drinks go airborne.

The National Weather Service is throwing out some spicy warnings: ‘If you live near wildland areas, keep your go-bag handy and maybe think twice about roasting marshmallows outdoors.’ Why? Because any fires that pop up are likely to spread faster than gossip at a family reunion. They’re even dropping fire references to rival past infernos like the Mountain and Thomas Fires. In other words, not a great week to try out that new flamethrower you got on Craigslist.

Orange areas at risk of power shutoffs due to Santa Ana wind conditions/SDG&E

So what’s causing all this madness? The Santa Ana Winds, of course. They’re born out of cool, high-pressure air masses in the Great Basin that rush down to Southern California, ready to dry out the land and light up the party. Add in the crispy, dry fuel lying around, and you’ve got yourself a perfect recipe for oh no.

Meteorologist Mike Wofford from Oxnard is here to remind us, ‘Hey, it’s December. This is just how we roll.’ Yep, if there weren’t winds like these, it’d be like Christmas without Mariah Carey.

And as for those red flag warnings? They’ll stick around until Wednesday morning—so hang in there, Southern California. Just think of it as nature’s way of saying, ‘Hold on to your hats…and maybe your houses.’”

Brian-o says this isn’t just your average blowhard event. Oh no, these are the Schwarzenegger of Santa Anas, flexing their way down to the coastline like they own the place. Last time we saw winds this intense was back in December 2020, when over 73,000 unlucky souls got an unplanned camping experience—no lights, no power, just vibes. But this time? It’s bigger, badder, and blowing stronger than your uncle at Thanksgiving dinner.

And here’s a fun twist: unplanned outages! That’s when random stuff—like someone’s patio umbrella or an airborne garden gnome—gets yeeted into a power line. Case in point: Monday morning in Ramona. Over 3,300 people woke up wondering if they’d paid their electric bill, only to learn that a piece of SDG&E equipment had thrown in the towel. Thankfully, they got most folks powered up by breakfast—unless your breakfast is at 2:30 p.m., in which case, better late than never.

You know, when the wind gets all rowdy and nature’s just looking for an excuse to light up a doobie of destruction—so don’t give it one! That means no flicking your cigarette butts out the car window like you’re auditioning for a Smokey Bear PSA. And, hey, no backyard bonfire parties unless you want a wildfire to RSVP.

The buzz from the fine folks at Cal Fire is this: Your house needs a little feng shui against the flames. Start by creating a buffer zone, a sort of no-flame DMZ. Clear out the flammable goodies within five feet of your crib—think dry leaves, dead plants, and anything else that goes ‘poof’ too easily. Stretch it out to about 50 feet if you’re feeling ambitious. This is called “defensible space,” but I like to call it “a moat without the alligators.”

Over at SDG&E, the power gurus are saying, ‘Look, people, if the winds go full berserk, we might just have to pull the plug for a while.’ Translation: Stock up on candles, flashlights, and maybe some old-school board games, because Netflix won’t be there to babysit. If the juice gets cut, don’t expect it back until the winds chill out and their crews can safely work their magic.

So, the moral of this windy, fiery tale? Get your Zen on, prep your pad, and be ready to live off the grid for a spell. And remember, friends, the best way to beat Mother Nature is not to tick her off. This is the Hippy Dippy Weatherman, reminding you: Stay groovy and don’t be a spark starter!”