Wind alerts are in effect through Sunday to account for increased offshore speeds, especially across San Diego County valley and mountain locations.

Powerful wind gusts are blowing across parts of Southern California — a wintertime phenomenon known as a Santa Ana wind event — nearly a year to the day that the same weather pattern helped spark the Los Angeles wildfire disaster.

Santa Ana winds will peak in Riverside County this weekend, but recent rains keep wildfire risk low despite warm, dry conditions.

After a sopping start to the new year, Southern California's persistent drizzle is expected to wrap up by late Tuesday, ushering in a period of dry conditions, warmer temperatures and even some Santa Ana winds by the weekend,