Santa Ana winds bring damaging gusts up to 70 mph, elevate fire weather concerns across Southern California
Strong Santa Ana winds intensified across Southern California on Friday, January 9, 2026, prompting the National Weather Service to issue high wind warnings and advisories for mountain, valley, and coastal regions. Gusts reaching up to 115 km/h (70 mph) were recorded in canyon and foothill areas, raising risks of power outages, tree damage, and hazardous travel conditions through the weekend.
Image credit: NWS
High wind warnings remain in effect for parts of Southern California as strong Santa Ana winds continue impacting the region. The National Weather Service (NWS) said the most severe gusts are expected across the San Gabriel Mountains, the I-5 corridor, and mountain passes between Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Sustained winds of 30–50 km/h (20–30 mph) with gusts up to 115 km/h (70 mph) are forecast in elevated and canyon areas, while lower elevations may experience gusts between 65 and 80 km/h (40 and 50 mph). The strongest conditions are forecast during nighttime and early morning hours, as the pressure gradient across the Great Basin remains tight.
The NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard office warned that the combination of strong offshore flow and low relative humidity will elevate fire weather concerns in some inland valleys and foothills, though recent rainfall has slightly reduced overall fire potential.
Residents were advised to secure outdoor objects, avoid parking under trees or power lines, and use caution while driving, especially in high-profile vehicles.
Power utility companies reported scattered outages across Los Angeles and Ventura counties as winds downed branches and damaged distribution lines. Authorities noted that recent soil saturation from winter storms may contribute to an increased risk of uprooted trees.
Wind advisories also extend southward into Orange and San Diego counties, where gusts of 65–95 km/h (40–60 mph) are forecast. The NWS San Diego office said the event may persist through Sunday, gradually weakening into early next week as the offshore pressure gradient relaxes.
Santa Ana winds occur when cold, dry air from the Great Basin flows downslope toward the Southern California coast through mountain passes, compressing and warming as it descends. These episodes are common in winter and can cause significant impacts, including fire danger, power disruption, and transportation hazards.
The warnings come one year after powerful northerly winds swept through Los Angeles on January 7, 2025, unleashing one of the most destructive urban firestorms in U.S. history.
A new study attributes those winds to a rare “jet-forced Santa Ana” pattern — a collision of upper-level atmospheric forces that produced gusts over 35 m/s (80 mph), destroyed more than 16 000 structures, and killed 31 people. The event struck ahead of the first winter rain, after months of near-record dryness that left vegetation tinder-dry.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
Will So Cal ever get a disaster break? though the Santa Anna winds this year may not have anything to burn, it all got burned up last year and the continual Atmospheric rivers have cut the drought factor down quite a bit but now it’s the earthquake factor threat from the Sun CME’s.
I’m glad I’m boonedocked in the Arizona Desert side stepping catastrophes happening in many States.