In recent days, however, the region’s powerful Santa Ana winds—which have been fanning the flames—have begun to slow down. This lull has offered firefighters a reprieve and a key opportunity to make progress against the blazes, but forecasts suggest the Santa Ana will return next week. What are these gusts, and how have they become so strong?

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.

As wildfires continue to rage across Southern California, forecasters have warned of a powerful force worsening the situation: Santa Ana winds, aka devil winds. Santa Ana winds are extremely warm, strong,

The winds fueling Southern California wildfires form when a high-pressure system develops over the Great Basin in Utah and Nevada

Santa Ana winds in Southern California are often-fierce winds that topple power lines and trees and can turn a spark into a raging wildfire.