Weather Tidbits: Santa Ana Wind Formation

This Weather Tidbits focuses on the development of Santa Ana winds. These winds are associated with southern California; but first form as high pressure builds east of the Sierra Nevada. That air pushes down the mountain and is compressed and warmed; which also enters the deserts where the air dries out even further. The air squeezes through the canyons creating strong winds; which create hot & dry conditions and very high fire danger for the Los Angeles & San Diego area. The winds tend to blow from the east & northeast and are most common during the autumn months bringing the lowest relative humidity values of the year.