The destructive power of the Santa Ana winds: How they fuel wildfires and increase risk

The Santa Ana winds are a phenomenon that occurs in Southern California every year between fall and spring, characterized by gusts of hot, dry wind that can cause discomfort and pose a risk for wildfires. This year, the winds have been particularly strong and widespread, contributing to fires that have scorched thousands of acres in the Los Angeles area. The winds form in the Great Basin, which includes parts of Nevada and Utah, and travel downhill towards the low-pressure areas along the Southern California coast, picking up speed and heat along the way. The winds can reach speeds of 40 mph or more, with the windiest areas typically being Ventura County and Santa Ana. This year, the winds were able to travel over the San Gabriel Mountains, leading to a downslope windstorm that targeted the foothills around Eaton Canyon where the Eaton Fire is located. While experts do not predict that the Santa Ana winds will worsen this century, they do anticipate more overlap between the winds and the fire season, resulting in more opportunities for devastating wildfires like the ones seen recently. The low-moisture content in vegetation during extreme dry periods makes conditions highly vulnerable to fires, which are made worse by the powerful Santa Ana winds. As fire season extends into January in California, the likelihood of Santa Ana winds coinciding with this season in the future increases, posing ongoing challenges for firefighting efforts.

Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com