Insider Blog: What are the Santa Ana winds and what causes them?

Southern California is home to a fairly unique weather phenomenon known as the Santa Ana winds. 
The Santa Ana winds are an offshore wind event. This means that winds will flow from the inland deserts toward the Pacific Ocean. This happens when high pressure over the deserts pushes air to the west

Dry air from the inland deserts is pushed by high pressure through the mountains. The winds experience the venturi effect as they move through the mountains, causing them to speed up. As the wind moves down the mountains, it heats up. All these factors combine to lead to conditions highly favorable for fires.

Santa Ana winds can last for anywhere between a few hours to over a week. Although they typically last an average of three days. They occur in the cooler months between September and May with October through March being the most prevalent time frame.

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You'll stay up-to-date with the latest weather videos. In addition, be able to monitor the changing conditions from wherever you are!