Southern California will continue to face "dangerous fire weather conditions" including strong Santa Ana winds and extremely low humidity through later this week, forecasters said Tuesday.

Several counties in Southern California faced "critical" fire risks this week, according to an AccuWeather forecast.

In recent days, however, the region’s powerful Santa Ana winds—which have been fanning the flames—have begun to slow down. This lull has offered firefighters a reprieve and a key opportunity to make progress against the blazes, but forecasts suggest the Santa Ana will return next week. What are these gusts, and how have they become so strong?

Fierce and “damaging” Santa Ana winds could bring the “worst of the worst” fire conditions to Southern California starting Monday, forecasters warn.

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.

A small amount of rain is in the forecast for the region beginning late Friday through early Saturday, a much anticipated change of weather.

The return of powerful Santa Ana winds poses a threat in the progress made against the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Forecasters in Southern California expect to issue a 'particularly dangerous situation' red flag warning for the coming week as the Santa Ana wind forecast worsens.

Extreme fire weather returns to Southern California - particularly Los Angeles and Ventura counties - as winds of up to 100 mph have prompted the most urgent warning from the National Weather Service.

Temperatures rise across the region Wednesday as we head toward a toasty Thursday. Santa Ana winds increase Wednesday night into Thursday morning. High

SANTA YNEZ, Calif. - Former President Joe Biden has returned to California. It appears he is heading back to the Santa Ynez Valley for his first

Update by the edhat staff As of 11:30 a.m. Thursday, the forward progress of the Lguna Fire has been halted at approximately 50 acres, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. All evacuation orders have been downgraded to warnings.