SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — As multiple fires burn across Los Angeles County, meteorologists said hazardous smoke could drift south through Orange County and into San Diego County at times. 

With thousands of acres already burned around Southern California, dangerous plumes of smoke lead to a harmful reduction in air quality, with some monitoring sites recording “hazardous” air quality — the worst possible rating, according to AirNow.gov.

Monitoring sites across the region show an increase in “fine particulate matter” which is typical during large-scale fire events. While winds are currently coming from the Northeast, a small shift in wind direction could send smoke south from Los Angeles to surrounding counties like Orange and San Diego.

Click here for the latest weather forecast in San Diego.

While the current easterly component will keep the majority of smoke flowing over the Pacific Ocean, a small shift out of the north could lead to wind blowing from north to south. It’s a shift that many models point to as a possibility through the day on Thursday. 

Here’s the current model data by 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, with smoke beginning to drift from L.A. through Orange County.

Later in the day, that northerly component could lead to the continuation of smoke drifting south, with many models showing at least a small amount of haze in the San Diego coastal and inland regions. Here’s the model data pushed through Thursday evening.

Fire crews will stay on high alert as an increase in acreage or a new fire starting could play a role in additional smoke impacting the region. Santa Ana winds have exacerbated an already very dry situation across Southern California with months of no decent rain events despite being well into the winter season. 

Couple dry brush with strong offshore winds and dangerously low humidity levels and it creates the perfect recipe for fires to start and spread. High Wind Warnings are in effect for the San Diego County coast, inland valleys, and mountains. The strongest winds will be east of I-15 late tonight through Wednesday morning. The dry air flow will lead to low relative humidity values and bring critical fire weather concerns.

A Fire Weather Warning, also known as a Red Flag Warning is also in effect across San Diego County inland valley and mountain locations. This will remain in effect through late Thursday until winds die down and humidity begins to climb. The National Weather Service could change the end date/time depending on what fire conditions look like through the next several days.

Here’s a look at air quality across Southern California as of Wednesday afternoon:

• Long-Term Exposure Risks: Prolonged exposure to poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke can have cumulative effects, including developmental impacts on children and worsening of chronic diseases
• Respiratory Illnesses: Smoke from wildfires contains harmful fine particulate matter — PM2.5 — that can penetrate deep into the lungs, exacerbating asthma, bronchitis, and other chronic respiratory conditions
• Cardiovascular Strain: Exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues, particularly for older adults and those with pre-existing conditions
• Mental Health Effects: The trauma of evacuation, loss of homes, and disruption to daily life can lead to anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder
• Displacement and Health Access: Evacuations often disrupt access to essential medications, medical care and support services, disproportionately affecting those in underserved communities.