Hot, Dry, Windy Weather on the Way

Strong offshore winds later this week will bring with them “a significant warming and drying trend” to an already parched Santa Barbara County, the National Weather Service (NWS) announced this morning.

Humidity levels are expected to fall into the low teens and single digits Thursday afternoon, and the hot and dry conditions combined with gusty winds will mean “critical fire weather” throughout the area, Santa Barbara officials said. A Red Flag warning has not yet been issued, but one may be on the way, they explained.

Along the South Coast and up toward North County on Thursday, temperatures will reach the mid-80s at beaches and 90s more inland. Winds will hit 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. On Friday and into the weekend, inland temperatures are expected to reach 100 degrees, accompanied by the same high winds. The low humidity levels are expected to lift by Monday.