--- title: Santa Ana Winds Trigger Wildfire Warnings in Southern California. Here's What To Know description: The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning on Oct. 14, putting Southern California towns on high alert for wildfire risk. canonical: https://time.com/article/2026/10/15/santa-ana-winds-wildfire-warnings-southern-california/ author: Simmone Shah article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-10-15T16:22:13.994Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-15T16:22:14.256Z article:section: Climate og:title: Santa Ana Winds Trigger Wildfire Warnings in Southern California. Here's What To Know og:description: The National Weather Service has warned that, if any fires ignite, “conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior.” og:url: https://time.com/article/2026/10/15/santa-ana-winds-wildfire-warnings-southern-california/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbcdae1c7ac2f8ad4/6ad0fb19028d9f3bb94a7569/santa-ana.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: santa-ana.jpg og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Santa Ana Winds Trigger Wildfire Warnings in Southern California. Here's What To Know twitter:description: The National Weather Service has warned that, if any fires ignite, “conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior.” twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbcdae1c7ac2f8ad4/6ad0fb19028d9f3bb94a7569/santa-ana.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Santa Ana Winds Trigger Wildfire Warnings in Southern California. Here's What To Know > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=dec94ba1-986a-449c-9730-4764c6c56f27&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1)  by [Simmone Shah](https://time.com/author/simmone-shah/)  ## Simmone Shah Reporter Oct 15, 2026 4:22 PM UTC  Palm trees bend in the wind as powerful winds forced Southern California Edison to shut off the power to the area on Thanksgiving day Nov. 24, 2022 in San Jacinto, Calif. Palm trees bend in the wind as powerful winds forced Southern California Edison to shut off the power to the area on Thanksgiving day Nov. 24, 2022 in San Jacinto, Calif. Gina Ferazzi—Getty Images  by [Simmone Shah](https://time.com/author/simmone-shah/)  ## Simmone Shah Reporter Oct 15, 2026 4:22 PM UTC Southern California towns are on high alert as the first [Santa Ana winds](https://time.com/7206942/los-angeles-wildfires-wind-science/) of the season are set to arrive. The red flag warning put out by the National Weather Service (NWS) Wednesday evening follows a relatively quiet [wildfire](https://time.com/7335166/la-wildfire-recovery-climate-warning/) season so far in [California](https://time.com/7205644/los-angeles-california-fires-climate-change/). Only 300,000 acres have [burned](https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/strong-winds-prompt-wildfire-warnings-for-millions-in-california/) since Jan. 1, compared to the over one million acres that fires have usually burned by mid-October. ## Why are Santa Ana winds so dangerous? Santa Ana winds blow in from the desert, typically between the months of September and May. The winds bring warmer temperatures and drier air to Southern California. They also greatly increase the risk of wildfires—warm winds coupled with summer drought can often make for a dangerous combination. The January 2025 fires that tore through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena were fueled by Santa Ana wind gusts that reached 100 m.p.h. This week’s winds will not be as [strong](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=CAZ548&warncounty=CAC037&firewxzone=CAZ548&local%5Fplace1=3%20Miles%20NNW%20La%20Puente%20CA&product1=Red+Flag+Warning&lat=34.0657&lon=-117.974), according to NWS predictions. But that doesn’t mean the area is in the clear. The NWS has warned that, if any fires ignite, “conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior.” ## What areas of Southern California are under fire warnings? The NWS has issued a [red flag warning](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=CAZ548&warncounty=CAC037&firewxzone=CAZ548&local%5Fplace1=3%20Miles%20NNW%20La%20Puente%20CA&product1=Red+Flag+Warning&lat=34.0657&lon=-117.974) for the Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley forecast zone that will stay in effect until Saturday evening. The most extreme conditions are expected in the Ventura and Los Angeles County valleys and mountains, particularly Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, and Simi Valley. [Southern California Edison](https://www.sce.com/outages-safety/outage-preparedness/outage-types/public-safety-power-shutoff-psps) is considering shutting off power to some 250,000 customers. Areas in Northern and Central California, including parts of Alameda county, Fresno County, and Napa County could also face [power outages.](https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/psps-updates/7day/)Shutting down power helps stop downed power lines or aging infrastructure from sparking fires. Recent rain means that San Diego and Orange County will face less of a fire risk, though the areas should still expect to see strong winds. If you live in an impacted area, sign up for local emergency alerts, plan for power outages, and avoid any outdoor activities that might ignite sparks like BBQs, campfires, or improperly discarding cigarette butts. One Southern California town is even encouraging residents to secure hallowed decorations—the giant skeleton and inflatable pumpkins haunting front lawns. High winds can turn Halloween decorations into hazards,” the city of Pasadena [said](https://www.facebook.com/cityofpasadena/) in a Facebook post. “Secure them before winds pick up.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/10/15/santa-ana-winds-wildfire-warnings-southern-california/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/10/15/santa-ana-winds-wildfire-warnings-southern-california/"},"headline":"Santa Ana Winds Trigger Wildfire Warnings in Southern California. 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