Santa Ana winds occur when air flows west from a region of high pressure over the dry Great Basin to lower pressure off the California coast, According to Accuweather. As that cool interior air flows over and through mountain passes, it accelerates, sinks and compresses.

The Eaton Fire – the other major fire incinerating neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area – was still burning with some additional containment on Saturday. As of Saturday afternoon, the wildfire had scorched 14,

The nature of the Santa Ana winds makes them perfectly suited to fueling blazes like the Palisades Fire, and climate change is increasing the risk