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

Santa Ana winds finally delivered a big, direct hit on San Diego County Tuesday, gusting as high as 102 mph in the backcountry where a touch of long-overdue rain could arrive this weekend.

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 County through late Thursday.

Over 1,100 firefighters were “strategically pre-positioned” across Southern California to address "ongoing critical fire weather," Cal Fire said.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Fire crews continued to battle a wildfire on Friday morning several miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border in the San Diego area, as it grew rapidly amid arid and blustery Santa Ana conditions.

With the strongest of the winds in the inland valleys and mountains of San Diego County on Monday night through Tuesday morning, the highest wind gusts of 102 mph were recorded in Sill Hill, near Julian. This is a typical wind-prone area in the mountains known for exceptionally high wind gusts, offshore and onshore.

Wildfires in Southern California prompt evacuations and school closures as Santa Ana winds exacerbate conditions. Communities remain on high alert.- Watch Video on English Oneindia

Residents of San Diego County are facing evacuation orders Tuesday as the Lilac Fire and Pala Fire have broken out in the region, officials say.

"A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly," the NWS said.

San Diego County expects rain and mountain snow after severe Santa Ana winds and wildfires across Southern California, marking a hopeful turn in a dry water year.

Wildfires in San Diego have led to mandatory evacuations in the area on Tuesday. Officials tell FOX News that two wildfires are burning in San Diego County, with strong Santa Ana winds creating "dangerous fire conditions." RELATED: Why are winter wildfires happening in Southern California?