Santa Ana winds are whipping Southern California on Tuesday, sparking fresh fears that progress made fighting wildfires that have scorched over 40,000 acres and left 27 dead could be reversed and more blazes could break out.

The NWS San Diego CA issued a high wind watch at 2:41 a.m. on Wednesday valid for Thursday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The watch is for San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys-The Inland Empire, San Diego County Inland Valleys,

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Parched Southern California was forecast to face more dangerous winds on Wednesday but could get some badly needed rain this weekend, dampening the prospects of another round of deadly wildfires though even a small amount of precipitation could could create new challenges like toxic ash runoff.