As the South prepped for snow and more cold starting Wednesday, residents in Southern California faced off with hurricane-strength winds.

The relentless California wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area, with the Palisades and Eaton fires scorching a combined 36,000 acres as of Saturday

The Santa Ana winds are dry, powerful winds that blow down the mountains toward the Southern California coast. The region sees about 10 Santa Ana wind events a year on average, typically occurring from fall into January. When conditions are dry, as they are right now, these winds can become a severe fire hazard.