CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / SOUTHLAND : Winds to bring fire weather

The Inland Empire and much of San Diego County were expected to be under a red-flag warning this morning through Monday night, signaling critical fire conditions, the National Weather Service said.

High pressure over the western U.S. was expected to fuel northeast winds. Meteorologists forecast gusts of more than 35 mph in the Cajon Pass and Santa Ana Mountains.

The air was expected to be particularly dry Monday, with humidity dipping below 10%.

Fire weather watches in Los Angeles and Ventura counties were canceled. Although winds were expected to kick up overnight in the mountains -- except in the Santa Monica Mountains -- relative humidity was expected to remain higher than 35%, a National Weather Service spokesman said.

-- Rong-Gong Lin II