David Payne: How High Winds Fuel Wildfires

Firefighters in California are preparing for the return of powerful Santa Ana winds, which are expected to gust up to 70 miles per hour on Wednesday, potentially leading to more wildfire evacuations.

News 9's Chief Meteorologist David Payne explained that while Oklahoma is known for its fast-spreading wildfires due to high winds, California's Santa Ana winds present a similar but localized threat. These winds originate from the Santa Ana Mountains, moving east to west or southwest, funneling through mountain passes toward the Pacific Ocean.

Payne detailed the weather setup contributing to these conditions: high pressure to the north and low pressure to the south create a clockwise wind flow that accelerates through the mountains. As the winds descend, they heat up and dry out, significantly increasing wildfire risk.

Though not as severe as previous days, the forecasted winds remain strong enough to fuel uncontrollable wildfires, Payne noted. Gusts could reach 70 to 100 mph, similar to wind-driven fire conditions sometimes seen in western Oklahoma.

Fire officials are warning residents to stay alert for evacuation orders as conditions worsen.