Katabatic winds? Adiabatic compression? Time for a thermodynamics lesson! The record lack of rain has also made this Santa Ana event different.

Could the windstorm that stoked the Los Angeles fires happen in Northern California? The answer is yes, and it also resulted in a historic fire disaster. Here's an explanation of the phenomenon.

The Santa Ana winds are dry, powerful winds that blow down the mountains toward the Southern California coast. The region sees about 10 Santa Ana wind events a year on average, typically occurring from fall into January. When conditions are dry, as they are right now, these winds can become a severe fire hazard.

San Diego wildfires resulted in residents evacuating the area. Two fires occurred early Tuesday morning. Intense winds are causing dangerous fire conditions in communities. Wildfires in San Diego have led to mandatory evacuations in the area on Tuesday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Santa Ana winds are common in Southern California during cooler ... passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch.” San Diego’s 7 most dangerous intersections could soon get a safety overhaul.

The blazes have grown to more than 37,000 acres, killing at least 25 people and destroying thousands of structures.

Extreme fire weather returns to Southern California - particularly Los Angeles and Ventura counties - as winds of up to 100 mph have prompted the most urgent warning from the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists said there was a chance the winds would be as severe as those that fueled the Palisades and Eaton fires, but that different locations would likely be affected.

Santa Ana winds occur when air flows west from a region of high pressure over the dry Great Basin to lower pressure off the California coast, According to Accuweather. As that cool interior air flows over and through mountain passes, it accelerates, sinks and compresses.

The blaze has burned just over 14,000 acres near Pasadena. It is 89% contained. This fire has burned 80 acres in San Diego County and is 30% contained. Jacey Fortin The Friars fire burned a few acres in San Diego’s Mission Valley neighborhood Tuesday afternoon,

Mild temperatures and low humidity are expected to contribute to "dangerous fire weather conditions" through Tuesday, Jan. 21