Santa Ana winds in Southern California are often-fierce winds that topple power lines and trees and can turn a spark into a raging wildfire.

A powerful Santa Ana windstorm is bringing hurricane-force gusts and fire risks to California. Here's everything you need to know about the weather phenomenon.

At least five wildfires are ravaging Southern California, and the three largest have already killed at least five people, burned tens of thousands of acres and prompted the evacuation of an estimated 179,

With the strongest gusts expected on Tuesday, extreme fire condition threats will prevail until midweek, L.A.-area fire chiefs say.

but the weather has other nicknames such as “devil winds” or “red wind.” Santa Ana occurs during the cooler months between September and May. Southern California is particularly vulnerable ...

Santa Ana winds are hot, dry winds that blow in from the northeast. They pick up speed as they hit the mountains around LA, and send humidity levels plunging, further upping the fire risk.

The combined dry climate and flammable flora have created fires and firestorms before. In October 1978, the Agoura-Malibu and Mulholland Canyon fires burned more than 500 homes and killed three people. The Agoura-Malibu fire grew into a firestorm, a fire so intense it creates its own wind system.

Santa Ana winds are common in Southern California during cooler months. Here’s a look at the often-fierce winds that topple power lines and trees and can turn a spark into a raging wildfire ...

The Santa Ana winds are dry, powerful winds that blow down the mountains toward the Southern California coast. The region sees about 10 Santa Ana wind events a year on average, typically occurring from fall into January. When conditions are dry, as they are right now, these winds can become a severe fire hazard.

Winds could threaten small signs of progress firefighters made over the weekend with the devastating Pacific Palisades Fire.

Fires across the Los Angeles area have killed more than two dozen people. Weaker winds enabled firefighters to make inroads containing the Palisades and Eaton fires.