Devastating Southern California Wildfires: 99-mph Winds Cause Night of Terror
Extraordinarily powerful winds and gusts – of up to 99 mph – have been reported as three major wildfires burn homes and businesses in Los Angeles County on Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service reported a gust of 99 mph near Altadena at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday; 98 mph near Woodland Hills at 9:37 p.m.; and 84 mph at Hollywood Burbank Airport at 8:30 p.m. Officials said this was not a typical Santa Ana wind event, though it is indeed bringing dry, offshore winds to the area.
Unprecedented Wind Activity Sparks Fear and Chaos
Forecasters warned the event could be accompanied by a weather phenomenon that can cause short-lived but extremely destructive winds; its effects were expected to be felt particularly in the San Gabriel foothills and valleys. The “mountain wave wind” activity occurs when gusts rapidly drop down mountain slopes, then gain strength upon hitting the flat landscape, causing “brief bursts of very strong, dangerous winds,” said NWS meteorologist Rich Thompson.
He said this could be the strongest such wind event since the 2011 windstorm that caused serious damage in Pasadena, Altadena, and other San Gabriel Valley neighborhoods, knocking out power for days for more than 400,000 people. The 2011 windstorm caused at least $40 million in damage, according to a preliminary estimate.
Fire Season Extended by Lack of Rainfall
The lack of rain has extended the fire season in Southern California, with downtown Los Angeles receiving only 0.16 inches of rain since October 1st. Extreme fire conditions were expected to continue through the middle of Wednesday afternoon, with another Santa Ana wind event expected for Friday.
Warnings Issued Amidst Growing Concern
The National Weather Service issued a “particularly dangerous situation” red flag warning ahead of Tuesday’s fires, alerting of extreme fire weather. This warning marked the third time this fire season such a warning has been issued by the NWS office in Oxnard, covering L.A. County, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. This type of red flag warning is expected to occur once every three to five years but has now been issued three times in just this fire season.
The growing frequency of these warnings signals a concerning trend in the region’s fire conditions, with experts attributing the increased risk to a combination of hot summers, lack of precipitation, and an abundance of fuel for potential wildfires. As communities brace for the ongoing impact of these devastating wildfires, the urgent need for comprehensive fire prevention and response strategies becomes increasingly evident.
