Santa Ana Winds

Santa Ana winds are dry and hot winds in the southern region of California. 

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Key Highlights 

• The Santa Ana winds and climate change are fueling wildfires in Malibu, California.
• It blows from the inland desert towards the coast, consequently affecting southern California’s weather.
• These winds usually occur from October to January.
• High-pressure System: A high-pressure system forms over the Great Basin creating a high pressure gradient.
• When high-pressure systems develop over the inland deserts, low-pressure conditions prevail over California’s coastal areas, and pressure difference forces strong winds to flow westward, descending the mountains toward the Pacific Ocean.

 

Impacts 

• As these winds descend, they compress, heat up, and lose humidity—sometimes reducing moisture levels to below 10%. 
• The resulting hot and dry conditions desiccate vegetation, making it highly flammable and prone to wildfires.