The Franklin Fire rapidly grew to burn more than 2,200 acres in just hours due to extremely dry weather and unusually strong Santa Ana winds that exceeded 50 mph.
Meteorologist Mike Wofford explains that the Santa Ana winds arise from a setup involving a moving low-pressure system over California and a high-pressure system over Nevada, driving winds dramatically.
Wofford stresses that the strength of the pressure difference greatly influences the wind speed; currently, the high-pressure system over Nevada is particularly strong, resulting in dangerous winds.
The funneling effect of winds through Southern California's narrow mountain canyons exacerbates the fire spread, illustrating the challenges faced by firefighters battling the Franklin Fire.
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