Santa Ana winds can happen in the fall where warmer winds from the Deserts inland blow towards the ocean and out to sea. This is when we get in this state up to 100 mph winds or more and if it is fairly dry like now with only one big rainstorm last Saturday morning mostly in Northern California some fires could start especially in Southern California but also in the coastal Mountains of Northern California as well when wind conditions are high and humidity is this low.
However, a majority of the time during the year the normal winds come off the ocean and blow inland all over California. This is the normal type of wind event and the Santa Ana winds are a more rare event. But, when they happen sometimes the right time of year fires burn from the Ventura Freeway all the way into Malibu and the residents have to go into the ocean not to burn up. if they wet their clothes and breathe through their clothes in the water then sometimes they can be okay and not get smoke inhalation from the smoke blowing out to sea. So, when this happens this is really serious and many million plus dollar homes burn in Malibu.
The only for sure safe road out of this area when fires are burning is Highway 1 going north and South from Malibu. But, if the fire has already crossed the road north or south of there they have no choice but to go into the ocean. I suppose you could get on your Hobie Catamaran (the smaller ones and sail out of there really fast but with 100 mile per hour winds I'm not sure that would work because they are better at winds under 25 miles per hour if you don't want them to turn over in the winds. And standing up on a paddle Board in those winds might not work either and when winds are blowing that hard out to sea you want to be sure you aren't blown out to sea also in those winds.
So, you can see why it is so serious because of only one road out of Malibu both north and south in a fire along the coast there.
begin quotes:
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING FOR THE BAY AREA AND CENTRAL COAST AS STRONG OFFSHORE
WINDS AND CRITICALLY DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP...
.Offshore winds are anticipated to increase early Tuesday morning
and persist through Thursday morning. North to northeasterly wind
gusts will average between 25 and 50 mph, particularly across the
higher terrain of the Santa Cruz Mountains, East Bay Hills, North
Bay Mountains, as well as interior portions of Napa and Sonoma
counties. In particular, these areas of Napa and Sonoma counties
have an increased likelihood of wind gusts in excess of 55 mph
late Tuesday and through the day on Wednesday. Afternoon humidity
values will fall to between 15 and 25 percent. Overnight humidity
recovery will be poor with readings between 25 and 45 percent.
The combination of the aforementioned winds and humidity will
translate to fires exhibiting a large resistance to control and
thereby creating a hazardous and extreme wildfire environment.
Fire crews and residents are urged to remain abreast of the
weather forecast over the next couple of days.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 006 San Francisco, Fire
Weather Zone 502 Marin Coastal Range, Fire Weather Zone 503
Sonoma Coastal Range, Fire Weather Zone 504 North Bay Interior
Mountains, Fire Weather Zone 506 North Bay Interior Valleys,
Fire Weather Zone 508 San Francisco Bay Shoreline, Fire
Weather Zone 509 San Francisco Peninsula Coast, Fire Weather
Zone 510 East Bay Interior Valleys, Fire Weather Zone 512
Santa Cruz Mountains, Fire Weather Zone 513 Santa Clara Valley
Including San Jose, Fire Weather Zone 514 Eastern Santa Clara
Hills, Fire Weather Zone 515 East Bay Hills, Fire Weather Zone
517 Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, Fire
Weather Zone 518 Mountains of San Benito County And Interior
Monterey County including Pinnacles National Park and Fire
Weather Zone 529 Northern Monterey Bay.
* TIMING...11 AM Tuesday until 7 AM Thursday.
* WINDS...Offshore winds up to or above 25 mph with gusts in
excess of 55 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Afternoon humidity as low as 15%. Overnight
humidity recovery between 25 and 45%.
* LIGHTNING...None anticipated.
* IMPACTS...Despite recent rainfall, a long duration offshore
flow event is anticipated. This will result in the rapid
curing of fuels. The combination of strong winds and low
humidity will cause fire to rapidly grow in size and
intensity. Outdoor burning is not recommended and may be
prohibited in some areas.
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