Santa Ana Winds Bring Heat and Wildfire Risk Back to Southern California
Although the primary weather headline this weekend across Southern California will be the unseasonable heat, forecasters are warning that the Santa Ana winds will be something to contend with as well. Here is a look at this upcoming wind event and the accompanying wildfire threat.
Heat and Santa Anas Will Amplify Wildfire Threat Through the Weekend in Southern California
The Santa Ana winds are expected to whip up again across Southern California, amplifying the risk of wildfires as the temperatures surge to levels not typically seen in the middle of October. While this degree of heat is unusual for this late in the fall season, the arrival of the Santa Ana winds is right on time.
These dry and gusty winds travel down the mountains toward the coast, causing the most damage in the canyons. The highest winds tend to fire up in the passes and canyons that are aligned from southwest to northeast. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Santa Ana wind season runs from September through May, with peak activity happening in December and January.
You do not need a degree in meteorology to understand that the high winds paired with the rising temperatures and low humidity levels will naturally increase the threat of wildfire ignition and spread. This threat will be the greatest in the parts of California that did not get in on the surge of moisture from the remnants of Rachel last weekend, including much of northwestern Los Angeles.
The gusty and toasty weather pattern is the result of an area of high pressure that is building over a zone from Northern California and to the south. To the east, the high pressure is extending well into Nevada and Utah. A storm that is circulating high in the atmosphere south of this high pressure will trigger the dry northeasterly winds roaring across Southern California.
Temperatures Will Soar as Santa Ana Winds Rip Down the Mountains
The movement of the winds down the mountains will warm the air, sending the mercury into the upper 80s and low 90s for much of Southern California. This includes the normally temperate beach communities. The latest forecast models signal that the heat will begin to build on Thursday and will persist through the weekend.
Temperatures will hover in the low 90s for at least three consecutive days in downtown Los Angeles, qualifying as a heat wave. Although this heat will not rival what was seen earlier in the month, it will still be warm by typical standards.
Gusts are forecast to hit speeds of 40 to 80 mph at their peak. Winds of this magnitude are powerful enough to bring down small trees and power lines. Areas that picked up moisture from Rachel will be the most susceptible to uprooted trees because the ground is already saturated.
Some utility companies may be forced to temporarily cut off electricity if dangerous fire weather is observed. This is because power equipment is one of the biggest culprits in starting new wildfires. These preventative outages are known more commonly as public safety power shutoffs (PSPS).
As if all of these hazards were not enough, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is also closely monitoring two tropical weather makers churning in the Eastern Pacific. Tropical Storms Simon and Trudy could both strengthen in the coming days as they move near the Pacific coast of Mexico.
Although these storms are not expected to deliver direct impacts to the U.S. like Rachel just did, the two systems could send high swells and overwash to the beaches of Southern California over the next week. Local officials are telling residents to exercise caution when visiting the beach to escape the heat this weekend, paying heed to all posted warnings and following the instructions of lifeguards.
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