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In meteorology, prevailing wind in a region of the Earth's surface is a surface wind that blows predominantly from a particular direction. The dominant winds are the trends in direction of wind with the highest speed over a particular point on the Earth's surface at any given time.
Unlike the prevailing winds in Southern California, which flow generally from west to east, carrying temperate air from the Pacific, the Santa Anas flow from northeast to southwest out of the ...
The Santa Anas are katabatic winds (Greek for "flowing downhill") arising in higher altitudes and blowing down towards sea level. [7] The National Weather Service defines Santa Ana winds as "a weather condition [in southern California] in which strong, hot, dust-bearing winds descend to the Pacific Coast around Los Angeles from inland desert regions".
The prevailing westerly winds from the oceans also bring moisture, and the northern parts of the state generally receive higher annual rainfall amounts than the south. California's mountain ranges influence the climate as well: moisture-laden air from the west cools as it ascends the mountains, dropping moisture; some of the rainiest parts of ...
The Santa Ana winds are strong, extremely dry offshore winds that characteristically sweep across Southern California and northern Baja California during late September into early May. They range from hot to cold, depending on the prevailing temperatures in the source region, the Great Basin and upper Mojave Desert. These winds are notorious ...
In most cases, the winds will not be strong enough to pose a high risk of trees and power lines coming down, but crosswind gusts over the passes and through some of the open areas can be high ...
Fog enters San Francisco Bay through the Golden Gate, seen here in August 2012. The prevailing wind along the California coast is from the northwest owing to the typical location of the North Pacific High, a large area of high atmospheric pressure.
Original article source: 'Highest possible' fire danger threatens Southern California as Santa Ana winds return. Show comments. Advertisement. Advertisement. Holiday Shopping Guides. See all. AOL.