Santa Ana wind
Hot desert wind
A Santa Ana wind is a hot, dry wind that blows from the desert toward the coast of Southern California, typically in autumn.
These winds are notorious for intensifying wildfires and creating an oppressive, unsettling atmosphere.
Writers have long associated them with frayed nerves and strange behavior: The Santa Anas were blowing and everyone seemed on edge.
Brief wind surge
- katabaticDownward-flowing cold wind
- downslopeToward lower elevation
- offshoreAway from land
- high pressureStrong force per area
Great Basin · chinook · foehn · sirocco · mistral · pressure gradient · sundowner · meteorology
Southwestern US coastal region
- Los AngelesSouthern California metropolis
- San DiegoMajor Southern California city
- Orange CountyCitrus-named jurisdiction
- MalibuAffluent coastal California city
Ventura · Riverside · San Bernardino · chaparral · canyon · Topanga · Pacific Coast Highway · eucalyptus
Devoid of water
- parchedExtremely dry or thirsty
- dryFree from moisture
- dehydratingRemoving water content
- evaporativeConverting liquid to gas
low humidity · static electricity · nosebleed · brittle · withered · drought · sere · dusty
Likelihood of flames spreading
- red flag warningOfficial extreme fire hazard notice
- emberGlowing coal fragment
- ashCombustion's powdery remains
- smokeAirborne combustion byproduct
evacuation · firefighter · conflagration · firestorm · firebreak · containment · burn scar · fire spread
Extremely hot, burning
- swelteringExtremely hot, uncomfortably so
- temperature spikeSudden sharp heat increase
- blisteringExtremely intense or severe
- oppressiveUnjustly harsh or stifling
stifling · baking · searing · Indian summer · warm spell · thermal · temperature inversion
gust
Brief wind surge
high pressure · Great Basin · chinook · foehn · sirocco · mistral · pressure gradient · sundowner · meteorology · forecast
Southern California
Southwestern US coastal region
- Los AngelesSouthern California metropolis
- San DiegoMajor Southern California city
- Orange CountyCitrus-named jurisdiction
Malibu · Ventura · Riverside · San Bernardino · chaparral · canyon · Topanga · Pacific Coast Highway · eucalyptus · palm trees
arid
Devoid of water
- parchedExtremely dry or thirsty
- dryFree from moisture
- dehydratingRemoving water content
evaporative · low humidity · static electricity · nosebleed · brittle · withered · drought · sere · dusty · desiccation
fire danger
Likelihood of flames spreading
- red flag warningOfficial extreme fire hazard notice
- emberGlowing coal fragment
- ashCombustion's powdery remains
smoke · evacuation · firefighter · conflagration · firestorm · firebreak · containment · burn scar · fire spread · spot fire
scorching
Extremely hot, burning
- swelteringExtremely hot, uncomfortably so
- temperature spikeSudden sharp heat increase
- blisteringExtremely intense or severe
oppressive · stifling · baking · searing · Indian summer · warm spell · thermal · temperature inversion
- windsbreeze, gust, gusts, gale, squall
- marine weathermarine weather, storm warning, gale warning, shipping forecast, small craft advisory
Santa Ana windsea breeze
Wind from ocean to land
coastal breeze · marine layer · ocean breeze · land breeze · June gloom
Santa Ana windmarine layer
Low ocean-born cloud cover
coastal fog · drizzle · fog · mist · humid air
Santa, wind, winds, windy, windiness, windward, windswept, whirlwind, saint