What are the Santa Anas?

The Santa Ana winds are triggered by high pressure over the Great Basin, a large, arid region of the western United States. They blow into Southern California from the north and northeast. Racing down through the canyons and passes of the region's east-west mountain ranges and out to sea, they push back the normal flow of moist ocean air.

Humidity levels drop into the single digits. Fires dance across hills. Barometric pressure swings suddenly. Heads ache.