The coastal town of Malibu in California, USA was recently in the news due to wildfire. The so-called Franklin Fire has charred more than 4,000 acres and affected about 22,000 people.
Although the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, experts suggest that the Franklin Fire has been destructive because of two reasons, the “Santa Ana” winds and climate change.
About Santa Ana winds
Santa Ana winds blow when high pressure builds over the Great Basin — the area between the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada, and the pressure is low over California’s coast.
The difference in pressure triggers the movement of powerful winds from the Basin’s inland deserts, east and north of Southern California, over the mountains toward the Pacific Ocean. Santa Ana winds usually occur from October to January.
