‘Catastrophic’ winds fueling LA wildfire disaster

US Geological Survey Senior Scientist Dr Jon Keeley told Sky News Australia although the winds themselves are “not unique” they are “more severe” than usual. The Los Angeles wildfire disaster has been fueled by severe Santa Ana winds, leading to evacuation orders for more than 180,000 residents. Dr Keeley said Santa Ana winds normally blow around 30 to 40 miles per hour but these winds have clocked up to 100 miles per hour. Drought conditions coinciding with severe winds led to the widespread destruction of the densely populated area, according to the senior scientist.