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 winds are common in California in the colder months, but they can sometimes help spread dangerous wildfires.

Santa Ana winds are expected to ramp up early next week, creating the critical fire weather that helped fuel the wildfires across the region. Meanwhile, a major winter storm that has brought record snow,