"Away from California's coastline, the interior hillsides are a carpet of brown, dry brush and grasses. Nearly 40% of the state is in drought, and with the state's Santa Ana and Diablo winds set to pick up in the coming weeks, any errant spark threatens to race across a landscape ready to ignite. The grass levels are very thick, and the brush is very dry,"
"Powerful, sustained wind events usually begin in October and spill over into early winter. Known as Santa Anas in Southern California and Diablo or Sundowner winds in other parts of the state, they're driven by pockets of high pressure across Nevada and Utah that push winds west toward the Pacific. The winds gain speed as they cross mountains while also becoming drier and hotter as they roll down slopes."
Interior California hillsides are covered in dry brush and grasses, with nearly 40% of the state in drought and abundant kindling after several wet winters. Strong seasonal winds—Santa Anas, Diablos and Sundowners—are forecast to return in autumn, gaining speed and heat as they descend mountain slopes. Fire activity in 2025 already includes 6,504 blazes and 425,680 acres burned through August, with 31 deaths from the Eaton and Palisades fires. Acreage burned is above last year but below the five-year average. Any errant spark amid these conditions risks rapid, exponential fire growth.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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