Santa Ana winds are returning to San Diego County Wednesday evening, surging temperatures and prompting a wind advisory for much of the region.

Southern California winds typically flow onshore from the Pacific Ocean carrying moist air onto land. The Santa Ana winds move in the opposite direction, coming out of the northeast.

Santa Ana winds have returned to LA/Ventura Counties and are expected to kick into gear later tonight into Thursday. Wind advisories and warnings are in effect for all the usual Santa Ana areas.

A meteorologist explains how the Santa Ana winds form and how they impact California wildfires.

And different parts of Earth — water and land — heat from sunlight at different rates, which shapes wind.What are Santa Ana winds?Southern California's winds typically flow onshore from the ...

Katabatic winds? Adiabatic compression? Time for a thermodynamics lesson! The record lack of rain has also made this Santa Ana event different.

As firefighters continue to battle blazes in Los Angeles that have leveled entire neighborhoods, the deadly Santa Ana winds that fueled them have returned and are expected to intensify. Gusty ...

After a brief break on Sunday afternoon, another prolonged round of gusty Santa Ana winds is expected to develop, forecasters say.

Another wave of Santa Ana winds arrive Saturday, likely generating gusts over 40 mph throughout the Inland Empire going into Sunday.

What are Santa Ana winds? Santa Ana winds flow east to west through Southern California's mountains, according to the National Weather Service.

Although the Santa Anas are a routine part of life for people living in southern California, the winds are particularly violent and destructive this time around, experts say.