The fierce Santa Ana winds that stoked a blaze that scorched thousands of acres near Los Angeles will wallop San Diego County early Wednesday, in the start of what forecasters say could be a week or more of off-and-on lashings in a region that’s drier than it’s been in years.

Santa Ana winds are one of the nation's most notorious wind events and an ongoing weather hazard in Southern California.

Santa Ana winds can bring disruptive impacts to daily life in Los Angeles and parts of southern California, but when coupled with wildfires they can escalate the situation rapidly, causing the fires to take hold and spread at great speed.

Locations of “greatest concern” in the “life-threatening” and “destructive” windstorm include cities within Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Winds will whip up and humidity levels will drop in Southern California this week, raising the risk for wildfires in parched areas still recovering from a recent destructive blaze