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

"The Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles," LA's fire chief said.

Between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, AccuWeather predicts wind gusts between 30 and 50mph through L.A.’s mountain ranges as well as the northern San Fernando Valley and coastal Ventura and Orange Counties. As a result, unhealthy air quality is expected to persist throughout the weekend.

“Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis are among those whose homes are at risk as fires continue to break out across Los Angeles, causing more than 30,000 people to flee the Pacific Palisades as well as parts of Malibu and Santa Monica. Hamill posted an update on his Instagram on …

Resident Nicolas Libonati said he saw a lot of abandoned cars on the road, and people running toward the coast. "It was kind of a surreal scene," he said.

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.

Firefighters scrambled to corral a fast-moving wildfire in the Los Angeles hillsides dotted with celebrity homes as a "life-threatening, destructive" windstorm hit Southern California, fanning the blaze seen for miles while roads were clogged with cars as residents tried to flee.

Evacuations are underway west of Los Angeles where the Palisades Fire broke out during extreme fire weather for Southern California on Tuesday. Winds more than 80 mph have been recorded in the mountains and over 60 mph at lower elevations.

Santa Monica, United States - January 07, 2025 This footage shows two planes on their way to extinguish the Palisades fire, as seen from Palisades Park in Santa Monica. [Credit: Derrick Townsend]