Strong Santa Ana winds have fueled multiple wildfires across Southern California, forcing thousands of residents to flee from their homes.

The winds are common in California in the colder months, but they can sometimes help spread dangerous wildfires.

Fires began Tuesday afternoon as high-speed winds, known as the Santa Ana winds, quickly spread flames from a small fire into Pacific Palisades.

Upper stretches of the state have been blessed with rainfall, but Southern California is historically dry right now. Then the winds hit

Meteorologists said there was a chance the winds would be as severe as those that fueled the Palisades and Eaton fires, but that different locations would likely be affected.

The Palisades Fire and other blazes are expected to worsen throughout Los Angeles as the Santa Ana winds strengthen overnight

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.

However, the Eaton and Palisades fires proved different, as strong Santa Ana winds overwhelmed firefighting efforts. Similarly, the Tubbs Fire of 2017 in northern California's wine region faced ...

Nearly two weeks after the start of two of the most devastating wildfires to hit the Los Angeles area, Southern California is under an extreme fire risk warning again.

So far, the strongest winds recorded during the fires were around 100 miles per hour, which is considered hurricane-force strength. The strong Santa Ana winds are still expected to remain throughout the week, which is not ideal for the ongoing fight to contain the fires.

One of the biggest stories of 2025 thus far has been the wildfires in California. A common occurrence in that state, wildfires are often fueled by a combination of drought and terrain. The terrain allows for the development of Santa Ana winds that cause any fire to spread very quickly.