Santa Anas are the desiccating winds that are common in winter, blowing out of Nevada and Utah and into southwestern California. Carrying dry desert air, they push over the mountains in the Transverse Ranges and accelerate as they move downslope, howling into the canyons and valleys.

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,

The areas most impacted in the LA area by SCE’s public safety power shutoffs are La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, Malibu, Santa Clarita, and the Santa Monica Mountain area.