Three wildfires are raging in Southern California, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity. The cause of the fires is under investigation, but human activity is a contributing factor to most wildfires in the US. The Santa Ana winds, known for their dryness and speed, create an 'atmospheric blow-dryer' effect that exacerbates fire risk.
A real-life drama is unfolding just outside Hollywood. Ferocious wildfires have ballooned at an 'alarming speed', in just a matter of hours. Why? What caused the California wildfires? There are currently three wildfires torching southern California. The causes of all three are still being investigated. The majority (85%) of all forest fires across the United States are started by humans, either deliberately or accidentally, according to the US Forest Service.
But there is a difference between what ignites a wildfire and what allows it to spread. However these fires were sparked, other factors have fuelled them, making them spread quickly and leaving people less time to prepare or flee. The main culprit so far is the Santa Ana winds. Follow live: Malibu residents told to get ready to flee What are Santa Ana winds? So-called Santa Ana winds are extreme, dry winds that are common in LA in colder winter months. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection warned strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity are whipping up 'extreme wildfire risks'. Winds have already topped 60mph and could reach 100mph in mountains and foothills - including in areas that have barely had any rain for months. It has been too windy to launch firefighting aircraft, further hampering efforts to tackle the blazes. These north-easterly winds blow from the interior of Southern California towards the coast, picking up speed as they squeeze through mountain ranges that border the urban area around the coast. They blow in the opposite direction to the normal onshore flow that carries moist air from the Pacific Ocean into the area. The lack of humidity in the air parches vegetation, making it more flammable once a fire is started. The 'atmospheric blow-dryer' effect The winds create an 'atmospheric blow-dryer' effect that will 'dry things out even further', said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES SANTA ANA WINDS WILDFIRE RISK HUMAN ACTIVITY CLIMATE CHANGE
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