Santa Ana winds picked up across San Diego County Monday, prompting a red flag warning for the most wind-prone areas and power shut-offs for some San Diego Gas & Electric customers.

Forecasters say the third windstorm of January will focus much of its energy on the region during one of the driest periods on record.

Santa Ana winds increased Monday morning, prompting Gas & Electric to began a new set of Public Safety Power Shutoffs across the county, affecting just under 1,000 customers with the potential to reach over 80,

Dry and windy conditions are in the forecast Monday and through mid-week in San Diego County, with critical fire weather expected for valleys, coastal mountain slopes, and chances of light rain west of the mountains next weekend,

To reduce the risk of wildfires in certain areas of San Diego County, San Diego Gas & Electric has begun power shutoffs in high-risk areas again.

San Diego Gas & Electric more than doubled the number of customers whose power has been shut off Tuesday as Santa Ana winds began booming inland and spreading to coastal area. Through 1:45 p.m., 5,620 customers had lost power,

Scores of residents were urged to flee as fast-moving fires hurtled through bone-dry brush in Bonsall and Mission Valley Tuesday

The National Weather Service has extended a Red Flag Warning until Friday morning for San Diego County's inland valleys and mountains.

Parts of San Diego County will be dealing with more Santa Ana winds starting Monday afternoon, and the fire weather conditions could mean potential San Diego Gas & Electric power shutoffs for many communities.

This weekend's cool temperatures and higher humidity are expected to give way to more Santa Anas and a new red flag warning Monday.

Red flag warnings are in effect until Thursday for parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego because of low humidity and relentless Santa Ana winds.

The Red Flag Warning expired in San Diego and SDG&E has restored the power to areas shut off during the warning.