LOS ANGELES: Last week, devastating wildfires tore through Los Angeles, driven by the relentless Santa Ana winds, often called the "Devil Winds." These dry, powerful gusts heightened its intensity, leaving the damage caused by something that has passed through the region. As the fires continue to burn, the return of these infamous winds this week poses a renewed threat.

What Are Santa Ana Winds?

Santa Ana winds are hot, dry gusts originating from the northeast. As they sweep toward Los Angeles, these winds accelerate over the mountainous terrain, drastically reducing humidity levels. This creates the perfect conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly.

While investigations are still ongoing to pinpoint the specific causes of each fire, the winds have been a major factor in turning them into uncontrollable infernos. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ashes, with thousands displaced from their homes.

Climate Change’s Role

The wildfire crisis has been exacerbated by the region’s changing climate. Prolonged heatwaves and increasing aridity have made Los Angeles especially vulnerable. The city has not seen significant rainfall in over eight months, including during its traditionally wetter season, leaving the land dry and highly flammable.

How Santa Ana Winds Fueled Last Week’s Fires

On January 10, the National Weather Service issued a rare or particularly dangerous situation red flag warning, expecting severe winds. The warning proved accurate as wind speeds reached up to 99-mph in some areas, igniting multiple fires.

The first blaze erupted in Palisades at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time, with its cause still under investigation. Over the next few days, the winds fueled five additional fires, burning over 40,000 acres. By the weekend, calmer winds allowed firefighters to gain control over three of the fires. However, the largest fires, Palisades and Eaton, remained active with only partial containment, while the Hurst fire was nearly under control.

Winds Return, Threatening Progress

On January 13, the Santa Ana winds began picking up again, prompting the National Weather Service to issue another red flag warning through January 15. Wind speeds ranged from 30-40 mph, with gusts reaching up to 65 mph. These conditions threaten to undo containment efforts and reignite the spread of the fires.

Key areas under the warning include Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Eastern San Gabriel Mountains, Malibu Coast, and Santa Clarita Valley.

Chris England, a meteorologist, warned that while the winds might not match last week’s extreme speeds, they are still strong enough to cause "extremely rapid spread and difficult containment."
As Los Angeles battles the ongoing fires, the city’s NBA teams, the Lakers and Clippers, returned to action after last week’s