Santa Ana winds are caused by strong high pressure over the Great Basin region of the West creating a pressure gradient that amps up winds through the mountains, foothills and sometimes valleys of Southern California. In this case, the winds are getting a major boost from a strong upper-level low pushing southward across the state.

What are Santa Ana winds? Santa Ana winds flow east to west through Southern California's mountains, according to the National Weather Service. They begin when winds from the dese