Santa Ana winds blow again in California, approaching 120 km/h Monday and Tuesday

Arab Weather - We are still following the latest developments in the weather situation in the state of California in the Arab Weather operations room, as the latest readings of wind and air pressure maps indicate the renewal of north-easterly winds, or what is locally called Santa Ana winds, over the state of California, especially its southern regions.

Northeast winds up to 60 mph expected Monday and Tuesday

According to the latest weather data, from Monday evening to Tuesday evening, northeast winds are expected to resume, with speeds ranging between 25 and 40 miles per hour, with gusts reaching 60 miles per hour, while gusts may reach 75 miles per hour on coastal slopes and valleys in the San Bernardino and Santa Ana mountains.

Areas expected to be affected by strong winds

The winds are expected to be concentrated in several areas of the state, especially the southern part, including the mountains of San Bernardino County, the San Bernardino Valley, the interior Riverside-Empire County, the San Jorginho Pass near Banning, and the Santa Ana Mountains.

Expected impacts

Strong winds, with gusts approaching 75 mph, are expected to down trees, damage power lines, and blow away loose outdoor property.

Low humidity coupled with strong winds could spark fires again.

The latest weather readings indicate expectations of a decrease in humidity levels, which may fall below 10%, especially on Tuesday, due to the dry northeast winds expected to blow over the state, which may fuel the fires.

fire risk areas

• San Bernardino National Forest Areas, Riverside County Mountains including San Jacinto Forest Area
• San Bernardino National Forest and Santa Ana Mountains including the Trabuco Forest Area
• Cleveland National Forest and San Diego County Mountains
• Including the Palomar and Descanso forest areas.
• Cleveland National Forest, San Jorginho Pass near Penang
• And the interior of Orange County.

Last summer's drought and this winter's lack of rain helped fuel California's wildfires.

Studies indicate that the drought of last summer and the lack of rainfall during the current winter season led to the combination of conditions that helped the fires to ignite in California, coinciding with the Santa Ana winds, which in turn led to the rapid spread of these fires over large areas of the state.

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, only 36 percent of the state is officially experiencing drought, with the southern part of the state feeling the most impact.

Latest loss statistics

According to the latest statistics on the losses caused by the fires in the state, more than 40,000 acres have burned and the fires have killed at least twenty to thirty people.

Local authorities reported that more than 12,000 buildings were destroyed by the fires, making the event one of the costliest disasters in U.S. history.

Investigators have not revealed the cause of the major fires, but agencies like the ATF have focused on the role that humans may have played in starting the fires. According to a congressional report, 89% of the country's wildfires between 2018 and 2022 were human-caused.