Snow-crippled America is facing a fresh threat from ‘destructive’ 100mph ‘devils winds’ and wildfires.
As central and eastern regions battle the worst winter storm in a decade, the west is braced for raging gales, falling power lines and toppling trees.
A blast of ‘Santa Ana’ winds will tear through the region ahead of mid-week, damaging buildings and grounding flights.
Also called ‘diablo’ or ‘devil’ winds, the warm, dry gusts tumble from high ground towards the Pacific coast fuelling spates of wildfires.
Large parts of the US have been blanketed by snow
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AccuWeather senior director of forecasting operations Dan DePodwin said: “A major Santa Ana wind event in parts of Southern California will increase the risk of wildfires and could trigger public safety power shutoffs.
“This will be a dangerous and potentially destructive windstorm from the Santa Monica mountains to Hollywood, Burbank, Beverly Hills and Malibu, and extreme impacts are possible in the highest elevations.
“Gusty winds could bring down tree limbs and power lines.”
Winds will be strong enough to down power lines, he warned, sparking electrical fires over dry ground.
Winds could widely reach between 50mph and 70mph, with gusts locally touching 100mph, he added.
He said: “We expect thousands of families to lose electricity due to public safety power shutoffs as utility crews work to minimize the risk of downed lines that can spark a wildfire.
“Wind damage to utility lines could also cause additional power outages.”
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Wildfires have ravaged parts of LA
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Santa-Ana winds are caused by air falling rapidly from areas of high pressure to regions of low pressure.
They whip up unusually strong gusts at speed, which build in temperature as the wind pushes through land funnels.
Their warm and dry nature allows them to trigger and fuel wildfires which can then escalate.
AccuWeather meteorologist Gwen Fieweger said: “The combination of gusty winds and lowering humidity levels in the region could also bring an elevated fire risk through midweek.
“Powerful Santa Ana wind gusts can cause damage to buildings and trees while crosswinds could cause delays at airports and could overturn high-profile vehicles.”
The warnings come as central and eastern swaths of the US battle the worst winter snowstorm for a decade.
A barrage of Pacific low-pressure storms crossing the country have waged war with Arctic air smothering the nation.
Eastern states will see yet more snowfall
AccuWeather
Winter Storm Blair has buried parts of the Midwest, New England and east coast under feet of snow with more disruption forecast into the weekend.
Weather Channel spokesman Chris DeWeese said: “This one looks serious.
“An expansive winter storm that will spread snow and ice from the Plains to portions of the Midwest and mid-Atlantic has the potential to snarl post-holiday travel in multiple states.
“This storm’s sleet and freezing rain may be particularly problematic.”
Jim Dale, US meteorologist for British Weather Services and co-author of ‘Surviving Extreme Weather’, said: “The risk of very heavy snowfall driven by stormy conditions will last through the week.
“Freezing rain and ice will also be a problem and has the capability of causing major and widespread disruption.”
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