There were no reports of power outages in the Temecula Valley on Monday, said Boyd. Wind gusts Monday were clocked at up to 80 mph in Orange County's Mountains and 60 mph below the Cajon Pass, according to the National Weather Service. Southeast of Temecula, strong winds kicked up a highly visible ash and dust cloud in the area of the August's 12,000-acre Pechanga Fire. Joan Wynn, a spokeswoman for the Cleveland National Forest, said forest officials were not concerned that the wind would render ineffective efforts to revegetate areas stripped by bulldozers. Wynn said those wide cuts through the forest and the Agua Tibia Wilderness were covered with brush material that was expected to hold most of the soil in place.
More wind is on the way today.
They will not be as strong on Tuesday however, with top gusts at around 45 mph. Santa Ana winds are generally defined as warm, dry winds that blow from the east or northeast. Clockwise circulation around the center of this high pressure area forces air downslope from the high plateau. The air warms as it is compressed and dries out as it blows across the desert. Santa Ana winds usually blow between October and February with the most occurrences in December.