Another round of Santa Ana and Santa Lucia winds are expected to develop Tuesday evening, increasing fire weather conditions.
The National Weather Service has issued a fire warning for much of Ventura County and western Los Angeles from 10 p.m. Tuesday through 3 p.m. Thursday.
Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images
The northeasterly wind gusts can reach speeds of up to 55 km/h. The dry air mass will spread through the region with humidity between 10 and 20%. The dry air will increase fire conditions, especially around vegetation.
A week ago, the NWS issued weather-wind advisories for several parts of Southern California. Last Monday the Franklin Fire exploded in Malibu Canyon near Pepperdine University, burning more than 10,000 acres and destroying dozens of homes.
What are Santa Ana Winds?
Santa Ana winds are caused when “air from a high-pressure area over the arid, desert region of the southwestern U.S. flows westward into a low-pressure area off the coast of California,” according to the NWS.
Santa Ana winds are more common during the colder months, but the wind can generally feel warm. The NWS said air from the cool desert is being compressed by the mountains.
These winds are known to cause property damage and start forest fires.
What are Santa Lucia Winds?
The NWS said the Santa Lucia winds are caused similarly to the Santa Ana winds. They are named after the Santa Lucia Mountains off the central coast of California so they can be identified based on geographic region.
Cold air from inland generates strong winds that move towards the coast.
