An uptick in Santa Ana winds Wednesday afternoon through Thursday, combined with critically dry vegetation and low humidity, will result in elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions in San Diego County through late Thursday.

A rare Particularly Dangerous Situation warning has been issued for Southern California as a powerful and potentially damaging Santa Ana wind event​ is expected.

As Southern California shifts into recovery mode after the devastating wildfires, residents should stay on alert on Monday and Tuesday with high winds returning. The National Weather Service has

This week, the Santa Ana winds are expected to hit the region, possibly sparking more fires in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and/or Ventura counties. The National Weather Service declared a rare PDS, or "particularly dangerous situation," red flag warning for the Los Angeles area ahead of this week.

Critical fire conditions are expected to continue through Friday. But rain could be on the way this weekend. Here's what to know.

Parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties all will be under a red flag warning beginning on Monday morning, the NWS said. The strongest Santa Anas are expected Tuesday morning.

A critical fire threat will continue across County as Santa Ana winds and dry conditions persist through early Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

After a much quieter weekend, Southern California is experiencing a major shift in the weather pattern. The winds will peak Monday evening and overnight but extend into Tuesday morning.

Southern California will continue to face "dangerous fire weather conditions" including strong Santa Ana winds and extremely low humidity through later this week, forecasters said Tuesday.

Not only do these winds accelerate the speed and spread of the fires, they also affect how the fires are fought. The strong winds can make it dangerous to fly aircraft used for containing the fires.

Much of inland San Diego County was whipped yet again by a strong Santa Ana wind event Monday into Tuesday, contributing to risky fire conditions as the region remains bone-dry.

San Diego County remains under the grip of another round of moderate to strong Santa Ana winds, paired with extremely dry air, elevating critical fire weather concerns.