While winds were calm Saturday morning, they're expected to pick up once again in Southern California as the wildfire crisis continues. KTLA's Kacey Montoya reports on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025.

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.

Forecasters say weaker winds will hit on Saturday night and Sunday, and that there will be no relief until the county gets rain.

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,

The nature of the Santa Ana winds makes them perfectly suited to fueling blazes like the Palisades Fire, and climate change is increasing the risk

At least five wildfires are ravaging Southern California, and the three largest have already killed at least five people, burned tens of thousands of acres and prompted the evacuation of an estimated 179,

The Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires covered more than 5,600 acres of Southern California as of Wednesday morning. Tens of thousands were under mandatory evacuation orders but the fires increased in size overnight, helped by the blustery Santa Ana winds.

Southern California is going to get a much-needed break from the relentless Santa Ana winds that led to the destructive wind and firestorms that have left at least 10 people dead and neighborhoods in ruins.