Why California Braces for Dry, Dangerous Santa Ana Winds

Southern California is in for a major blast of powerful and dry winds known as Santa Ana winds. These winds can be a big problem for the region, especially when it's already really dry. Forecasters are expecting wind gusts between 50 to 70 miles per hour, and in some high areas, it could go up to 100 miles per hour. Areas like the Santa Monica Mountains, Hollywood, Burbank, Beverly Hills, and Malibu are at the highest risk. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles has warned people to stay indoors and keep away from windows. The Santa Ana winds are not just strong, but they can also make wildfires grow very fast. Southern California has been dealing with a drought, which makes the vegetation really dry and easy to catch fire. Normally, the wettest months in California are January, February, and March. But this year, southern California hasn't gotten much rain, which means there's a higher risk of big fires starting. But what exactly are Santa Ana winds? They are strong, dry winds that blow from the deserts inland toward the coast of Southern California. These winds are caused by high-pressure systems in the Great Basin area, which push cool air down towards the Los Angeles Basin. As the air moves downhill, it gets compressed, heated, and dried out, making it ideal for starting fires and causing damage to buildings and trees. For this particular event, there's a strong high-pressure system over the Great Basin and a storm brewing in northwestern Mexico. These conditions can keep the strong winds going for up to a day or two, but in some cases, they can last even longer. Santa Ana winds are specific to Southern California, but similar wind events happen all over the world. In the Rocky Mountains, there are Chinook winds, and in Europe, there are Foehn winds. These winds all form when air moves down from high elevations, warming and drying out. You might think that January is an odd time for Santa Ana winds, but they can actually happen at any time from late September to early spring. January events are more common during La Niña years, which are periods with cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the Pacific. La Niña conditions often bring drier weather to Southern California. During this upcoming windstorm, there's a high risk of wildfires because of the dry conditions and strong winds. Even a small spark could start a big fire that spreads quickly. Powerlines could also go down, and utility companies might turn off power to fix any issues. Strong gusts can cause damage and send debris flying, too. High-profile vehicles and airplanes are also at risk, which could lead to travel disruptions.