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 average, typically occurring from fall into January. When conditions are dry, as they are right now, these winds can become a severe fire hazard.
New studies are finding the fingerprints of climate change in the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, which made some of extreme climate conditions — higher temperatures and drier weather — worse.
Extreme conditions helped fuel the fast-moving fires that destroyed thousands of homes. Scientists are working to figure out how climate change played a role in the disaster.
Critical fire conditions are expected to continue through Friday. But rain could be on the way this weekend. Here's what to know.
Climate change did not cause the Los Angeles wildfires, nor the now infamous Santa Ana winds. But its fingerprints were all over the recent disaster, says a large new study from World Weather Attribution.
A rare Particularly Dangerous Situation warning has been issued for Southern California as a powerful and potentially damaging Santa Ana wind event​ is expected.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed fire engines, water-dropping aircraft and hand crews across the region—to enable a rapid response if a new fire does break out, according to The Associated Press.
Santa Ana winds return to Southern California from Monday to Tuesday, once again raising fire danger concerns.
The Hughes Fire started just before 11 a.m. Wednesday near Castaic Lake, north of where fire crews are working to fully contain the Palisades and Eaton Fires that have scorched more than 40,000 acres and left at least 28 dead since they began January 7.
Climate change caused primarily by fossil fuel burning had increased the likelihood of the California fires, scientists say
Human-caused climate change increased the likelihood and intensity of the hot, dry and windy conditions that fanned the flames of the recent devastating Southern California wildfires, a scientific study found.
Although pieces of the analysis include degrees of uncertainty, researchers said trends show climate change increased the likelihood of the fires.