The Santa Ana winds are fueling wildfires in southern California. Usually, they stay at higher altitudes, but this time, they dropped lower and squeezed through mountain passes.

The Santa Ana winds are spreading into San Diego County Wednesday, NWS San Diego meteorologist Alex Tardy said. The worst winds will occur Wednesday for the Coachella Valley and the San Diego area.

Santa Ana winds, one of the nation's most notorious wind events and an ongoing weather hazard in Southern California, have helped fuel the destructive wildfires in Los Angeles this week.

Certainly the strength of the most recent Santa Ana event was unusual, as was the devastation the new fires caused. However, this is the typical time of year for Santa Ana winds.

What causes the Santa Ana winds? The Santa Ana winds are dry, powerful winds that blow down the mountains toward the Southern California coast. The region sees about 10 Santa Ana wind events a year on ...

Santa Ana winds flow east to west through Southern California's mountains, according to the National Weather Service. They begin when winds from the desert flow westward toward an area of low ...

️ The Santa Ana winds: A cultural and destructive force in Southern California But "this one is not typical," Wofford says. This time, the Santa Anas are coupled with "very strong winds in the ...

Strong winds are fueling wildfires in California, with gusts reaching more than 50 mph early Wednesday.The winds, known as the Santa Ana winds, intensified Tuesday as fires broke out in at least ...

Powerful Santa Ana winds, near hurricane strength at times, swept down the mountains outside Los Angeles and pushed wildfires into several neighborhoods starting Jan. 7, 2025. Well over 1,000 ...