Santa Ana Winds occur when air from a region of high pressure over the dry, desert region of the southwestern U.S. flows westward towards low pressure located off the California coast. This creates dry winds that flow east to west through the mountain passages in Southern California.

Southern California is bracing for another round of strong, potentially dangerous Santa Ana winds just over a month after a similar wind event helped fuel the Mountain Fire, which scorched nearly 20,000 acres in Ventura County and sent residents scrambling for safety as flames closed in.

The 95mph gust on Sill Hill is certainly unusual, but not a record. During another Santa Ana event on February 26, 2020, we had a 106mph gust at that same station on Sill Hill. According to the NWS, this is believed to be the strongest gust ever recorded in the county.