
At least 24 people have died due to the massive fire that broke out in the forests of California, America. While thousands of houses, buildings and other structures have been burnt to ashes. The fire in the forests of California took such a monstrous form that anyone would shudder after seeing it. This fire, which has spread from forests to cities, has caused devastation in Los Angeles and Hollywood Hills, forcing thousands of people to flee. The terrible fire has engulfed more than 12,000 houses. The main reason for the orgy of fire that is being seen in Los Angeles is Santa Ana.
What is Santa Ana, which lit up America?
Santa Ana is actually the wind due to which a firestorm is being seen in Los Angeles, America. Santa Ana winds are fueling forest fires in America’s Los Angeles city. The Santa Ana winds are dry, powerful winds that blow from the mountains toward the Southern California coast. When cold air moves into neighboring Nevada and Utah, storms form. As it moves west and then down the mountains of California, it becomes warmer.
Santa Ana winds typically blow between September and May. When high pressure builds over the deserts east of California, it pushes air toward the Pacific coast. As they move down the Santa Ana and Sierra Nevada mountains and through the valleys, the air gets compressed – increasing their temperatures. Due to these hot winds, fires have broken out in the forests of Southern California.
These winds pass through California an average of 10 times a year, this sequence usually continues from autumn to January. When conditions are dry, as they are now, these winds become a fire hazard. For this reason, the forest fire spread to the residential areas of the city. The Santa Ana winds blow when high pressure builds up in the Great Basin to the east. The greater the difference in pressure, the faster these winds move.
How much devastation caused by fire in America?
The Palisades fire in America has spread to 23,700 acres (9,500 hectares). Another 14,000 acres of Eaton area is in the grip of fire. Strong winds have worsened the situation, causing hot embers to come in contact with dry bushes and cause massive fires. When the wind subsided, the fire department took advantage of the situation and tried to extinguish the fire. But by Sunday, strong winds of up to 70 mph (110 kph) started blowing again. Due to which the fire continued to spread further.
Why strange weather patterns in America
The Washington Post has compared this strange weather pattern to a giant hair dryer. Writers have long focused on how winds affect people psychologically. The American writer Raymond Chandler once described them as so hot that they curl your hair and make your skin itch.” According to Joan Didion, “they caused sandstorms on Route 66, causing the hills And the vegetation dries up.”