Fall fear: high winds, high fire danger
August 12th, 2010, 8:00 am · posted by Pat Brennan, O.C. Register science, environment editor
Fall could bring stronger Santa Ana winds and drier conditions than last year to the Orange County area, along with higher-than-normal fire danger, a team of wildfire forecasters says — the possible work of the weather phenomenon known as La Niña.The La Niña pattern of cooler ocean temperatures appears to be taking shape in the equatorial Pacific, often a signal of a drier rainy season for Southern California. And La Niña also could mean more forceful Santa Ana winds than last fall's, according to the August Seasonal Outlook from the U.S. Forest Service's Predictive Services Branch.
Santa Ana winds blow through mountain passes toward the ocean, speeding up and heating as they go — and, in many years, increasing the chance of wildfire in Orange County.
Last year's Santa Ana period was relatively quiet, said Tom Rolinski, a meteorologist and the Predictive Services fire weather program manager.
"It's probably safe to say we're going to have more than we did last year," he said. "Whether it's going to be above normal, it's hard to say."
The same forecasters also raised their estimate for the wildfire season ahead in southwestern California — from "normal" to "above normal" — in their August report, which covers September through November.
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View entire article here: http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2010/08/12/fall-fear-high-winds-high-fire-danger/108129/
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