We are entering another crucial period for containing the fires that continue to burn in California.
With high pressure building over the Great Basin (an area around Nevada, Utah and Idaho), Santa Ana winds are set to strengthen again over the next few days. Winds blowing in from the east or north-east, are set to peak on Tuesday, with gusts up to 70mph (112km/h) possible.
But the strongest winds will be to the north and east of Los Angeles, including the counties of Ventura and Los Angeles. However, the wind will not reach the Palisades and Eaton fires, which are more than 40 miles (64 km) away.
The areas threatened by those two fires are facing winds closer to 30mph (48km/h) with gusts up to 50 (56km/h), which one local fire chief called “normal”.
Last week, winds in excess of 100mph (160km/h) were recorded and the presence of a deep area of low pressure centred on the border with Mexico, boosted the strength of the Santa Ana wind. That area of low pressure has now moved away and the winds won’t be quite as fierce this week.
