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.

On Tuesday at 1:20 a.m. the NWS San Diego CA issued a high wind warning valid from 4 p.m. until Wednesday 2 p.m.

A cooling trend is expected throughout San Diego starting Monday, with moderate to strong winds likely to pick up by mid-week followed by gradual warming into the end of the week, forecasters said. A high wind watch will be in effect from Tuesday evening to late Wednesday for county mountains and valleys,