In 2009, 16 years ago, on a different platform, I wrote, “We have all seen the news on television as large fires consume acres of brush, forest, and residential areas of southern California. These fires almost always occur during the time of the natural phenomena called the Santa Ana winds. Typically winds in California arrive easterly from the ocean. The Santa Ana winds are strong, hot, arid, offshore winds that sweep to the west arriving across deserts and into Southern California. The name "Santa Ana Winds" is traced to Spanish-occupied California, when the winds were called “devil winds” due to their heat. In other words, these winds have been around for eons.”
I have written about these recurring winds at least six times since and a few times prior.
The speed of these winds, reaching 100 miles per hour in the recent devastating flames in Los Angeles County, have been reported by its local and state politicians as “unprecedented”, yet as reported by AI ChatGPT and the BBC, “Speeds of 60 to 80mph (95-130km/h) are common, but gusts of up to 100mph (160km/h) can occur during the worst Santa Ana events.”
The winds can be predicted or forecast by the National Weather Service and other governmental institutions. With the historical destruction and damage caused by the Santa Anas, predictability is crucial for local preparedness and vigilance. In the past, it has also been an awareness alert for arsonists. In a recent report, one has already been arrested.
Being a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants and a haven for the homeless, campfires in the hills may have also been a contributing factor in starting some of the fires. Further, the fires were several, detached and far removed from each other. Thus, the ignition points for all the fires were incontestably the result of human activity - nefarious or not.
Over the coming days, politicians who head varying governing bodies and regulatory departments will make a multitude of excuses for all their myriad of failings, flaws, and incompetence, prior to, and during this apocalyptic event while never admitting responsibility, accountability, or deserved blame. The one issue to be adopted and embraced by all progressives and protestors, despite all of the evidence to the contrary, is that this event was the fault of manmade climate change.
These fires will become a major marketing pursuit for the radical global warmists. In the interim, our hearts hurt for all the innocent, grieving victims.
