What are the Santa Ana winds that have driven LA fires?
FILE-The Palisades Fire burns near homes amid a powerful windstorm on January 7, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. The fast-moving wildfire is threatening homes in the coastal neighborhood amid intense Santa Ana Winds and dry conditions in South
Devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area have resulted in massive damage to homes, the deaths of five people, and evacuations of thousands of residents from their neighborhoods.
Three major wildfires in Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires – are burning rapidly and are being driven by one of the strongest Santa Ana wind events in more than 10 years, according to FOX Weather.
What are the Santa Ana winds?
The Santa Ana winds are blustery, dry and warm and cause a lot of damage. These winds can cause vegetation to dry out, while increasing the danger of a wildfire.
Santa Ana winds can increase the risk of wind-driven fires if they occur during wildfire season and this is typically blamed for intensifying wildfire dangers, but they also bring abnormal weather to the California Coast, FOX Weather noted.
RELATED: LA fires containment update: What to know about California’s deadly blazes
When fires start, the Santa Ana winds fan the flames and accelerate their spread in an area. The winds create turbulence and can cause significant changes in speed or direction, which can cause flying hazards, according to UCLA.edu.
When do the Santa Ana winds take place?
The Santa Ana winds can occur any time of the year, but they are usually common during the cooler months, John Abatzoglou, an associate professor of climatology at the University of California Merced, told FOX Weather.
RELATED: Los Angeles wildfires latest: 5 dead as crews struggle to contain blazes
"They typically commence in, you know, late September, October, right, and then they go throughout the winter," Abatzoglou explained.
How are the Santa Ana winds linked to wildfires?
FOX Weather explains that there is no specific connection between wildfires and the Santa Ana winds. However, they can increase the risk of wind-driven fires if they happen during wildfire season.
What causes the Santa Ana winds?
The Santa Ana winds result from a strong difference in air pressure between two points. According to FOX Weather, since the atmosphere wants to be balanced, the air rushes swiftly from the area of high pressure to the area of low pressure.