The unusually strong force behind the apocalyptic fires in Los Angeles

Firefighters watch the flames from the Palisades fire burning a home during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. The fast-moving wildfire is threatening homes in the coastal neighborhood amid intense Santa Ana winds and dry conditions in Southern California.

Sustained powerful winds reaching nearly 100 miles per hour are driving fast-moving wildfires near Los Angeles, spewing smoke, destroying homes, closing roads, and forcing thousands of people to evacuate.