By FNC Meteorologist Janice Dean “The Weather Machine”

The winds are starting to die down now across Southern California, however we’re still going to see warm temperatures and low humidity over the next few days until a trough moves into the Pacific Northwest and breaks down that stubborn ridge of high pressure.  Take a look at this satellite image from Nasa showing the billowing smoke from the Sayre and Freeway Complex (formerly known as the Triangle Fire) taken yesterday.  It’s truly amazing – and the air quality is going to suffer obviously over the next few days.

Photo courtesy of Nasa

It has been so tragic watching the video, and the pictures come in from these fires that have destroyed so many homes and livelihoods.  You never can quite get used to seeing the devastation.  My heart goes out to all those suffering right now, and the brave firefighters who continue to risk their lives for others.

Also wanted to give a shout out to Casey Stegall and Adam Housley who are doing some amazing reporting out there on the front lines.  

Talk to you later!

We all feared this time of the year. Not enough rain, high temperatures, dry conditions and the return of the Santa Ana Winds. Friday night we left Montecito where fire had lashed its way through multi-million dollar homes and now just a few hours later, fires are doing the same all across the southland.

We are right now at the end of a court, on a hilltop in Diamond Bar California. Mandatory evacuations are everywhere and we are watching flames leap across the hillsides around us. Planes bomb the fire from above and the wind whips the fire. Here is some behind the scenes video I just shot. It is raw and unedited.

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UPDATE: The sun has disappeared behind the rolling hills of inland Southern California and the fire has taken a drastic turn for the better.

As if someone turned off the switch to a fan late this afternoon, the Santa Ana winds virtually went away in what seemed like a matter of minutes. From our high perch on Highbluff Road in Diamond Bar, we have watched the firefight all day and as dusk set in, we could literally feel the winds of change.

The warm, gusty winds that howl across the desert and down westward through Southern California go away as a cool breeze from the ocean hits us lightly in the face. The onshore flow has returned, the humidity rises, temperatures fall and the fire starts to blow back onto itself.

It is an amazing change and one that firefighters welcome with open arms.

Video Update, 3:00p et done

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     Only a stones throw away, the Pacific Ocean glowed under the light of a full moon and as the 101 free wound into Montecito just outside of Santa Barbara, the golden glow became reddish, smoke transforming the night skies into an eerie fog of a raging fire. It is early, about 2:00am and I have passed a number or fire truck caravans heading 90 miles north from the Los Angeles basin to help battle these flames. I pull off in the village of Montecito and head up a two lane highway into the canyons that lead into the mountains overlooking this beautiful area. Massive homes and even Westmont College pass by and not long into the drive, I see home after home engulfed. Fire crews giving up on some and racing to others. Thankfully the so-called ‘Sundowner Winds’ have left, but the destruction they helped cause has left at least 100 homes burned to the ground.

UPDATE  # 1      As I stand here along highway 192, which more resembles a two lane country road than a major roadway, the sun has illuminated the hillsides and the smoke has settled. This whole area was in flames when we arrived and one home after another burned with no way and no one to stop the marching flames. In the aftermath I now see six foundations on one hillside, nothing but white ash left, no even a fireplace left standing. Miraculously, amidst the destruction, one home stands. We had seen the flashing lights of the fire trucks on the hillside, but because of the darkness, we had no idea they somehow, someway, saved one.

UPDATE # 2    We are now on 36 hours straight without sleep. The smoke continues to billow out of destroyed and smoldering homes. We just met a city inspector, one of four saddled with the responsibility of seeking out destroyed homes and taking a picture to document and account for accurate numbers. He concedes the number of 100 set so far is a lot lower than the actuality. Pure speculation on our part would be closer to 200 homes and not all big expensive homes of the stars, but more moderate dwellings for professors from Westmont College for example. I have heard as many as 12 may have lost their homes in this fire. The good news, the winds have not returned.

By Janice Dean “The Weather Machine”

Hey Guys!

Well, as you’ve no doubt heard, we have a terrifying situation in Southern California.  Winds across Montecito Hills last night were gusting past 70 mph, and a huge wildfire has erupted overnight destroying at least 100 homes in the region.    You may have heard Adam Housley mention them as “Sundowner winds,” which is a localized term for offshore winds like the Santa Anas.   They are typically strongest at sundown (hence the name) or sunset.   The location of High Pressure and the topography of the region around Santa Barbara (mountains stretch from east to west) help to localize these fierce winds.  The Sundowner Winds also are a precursor to Santa Ana winds, and that is certainly the case as we head into the weekend.  Ventura and LA Counties are going to be the bulls eye for a strong and potentially very damaging wind event today and tomorrow with gusts of 70 mph plus, along with low relative humidity and soaring temperatures.  This will be a very dangerous time for Southern California.

(Photo Courtesy of Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)