Santa Ana winds to arrive ahead of Christmas

RIVERSIDE (CNS) - A Santa Ana wind event will arrive before Santa Claus in the Inland Empire, with easterly gusts beginning Wednesday and continuing into Thursday, drying out the region and driving up wildfire danger, forecasters said Monday, Dec. 21. ``Northeast winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph or more will be howling below the mountains and wind-prone passes and canyons, reducing the relative humidity and setting up an extended period of elevated critical fire weather in mountains and inland valleys,'' according to a National Weather Service statement. A High Wind Warning was expected to be posted today or Tuesday. The offshore flow will develop Wednesday morning and gain strength in the afternoon, meteorologists said. Winds will taper off in the overnight hours and start ag
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