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The Devil
Winds, the
Red Winds, The Santa
Ana Winds
While the rest of the country bundles up
for the winter, Southern California smugly puts on a
pair of shorts and
a t-shirt. Part of the thanks or the blame, belongs to the Santa
Ana Winds. Hot and dusty, the Santa Anas carry a
large number of
positive ions and have also been called 'ill winds' or 'the Devil
Winds'. They help keep Southern California warm during the
winter, but it can come at a cost.
The mysterious winds are formed when the inland
Mojave and Sonoran Deserts are cold, usually from October through
April. Known as downslope winds, air is drawn through the
mountains down into the Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and northern
San Diego County. Winds reach speeds of 70 mph, which qualifies
as hurricane force. The Santa Ana Winds can even force pollution
from Los Angeles across the Pacific Ocean to Catalina Island.
Sometimes they are enchanting and seductive. The warm currents
feel silky on your skin and you find yourself looking up at the sky,
taking a deep breath of nature’s heady soul thinking anything is
possible.
Other times the Santa Ana winds are heavy and ominous.
Hurricane-force winds reach under your clothes to scratch at your
skin. You close your eyes and mouth to shut out the grit hurling
at you, pulling your hair into tangled knots. Dust Devils spin
past, picking up trinkets and carrying them into their tall curving
funnels. Sharp, jagged palm fronds fly through the air and
tranquil fishing ponds are turned into choppy tempests.
The Witch Winds or the Santa Ana Winds carry a large number of positive
ions. Positive ion winds are known to inflame asthma and cause
depression, anxiety, irritation, exhaustion and insecurity.
Animals are also effected by the winds. Outdoors, my dog eyes me
from across the yard with a low, hunched-down stare. His teeth
seem suddenly bigger and his eyes look small and beady. Some
primal instinct makes me want to pick up a club or a spear.
Instead, I close the door, deciding the dog would enjoy more time
outside in the fresh air. Indoors, the cat drops by for a quick
snack. He has covered himself with dirt and the fur in his
coat sticks out like little spikes. He stalks through the house
like a panther, flipping his tail impatient and prickly. I know
if I touch him we'll both get a shock.
The native Southern California Chumash Indians know
of the winds from
long ago. Shamans understand their meaning and can read secrets
carried on the winds. Powerful winds sometimes foretold the
coming of gods. And goddess Mother Momoy promised if the winds
got too bad she would protect her people in her sacred abode in the
mountains. Similar ill winds blow in different lands and are
called by different names. Australia has The Desert Winds, Israel
has Sharav, Italy has Sirocco and Egypt calls theirs Khamsin.
Raymond Chandler wrote about the Santa Ana winds in the opening line of
his story Red Wind;
"There was a desert wind blowing that
night. It was one of those hot, dry, Santa Anas that come down through
the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and
your skin itch. On nights like that, every booze party ends in a fight.
Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their
husbands' necks. Anything can happen."
There are a few things you can try to counteract the
negative
effects
caused by the positive ions in the Santa Ana winds. First,
slather on lots of heavy duty moisturizer, body lotion and lip
balm. Make sure you are up to speed with your allergy meds.
Natural fiber clothing will help reduce static electricity.
Protect your skin from the dust with long sleeves. A hat or scarf
will keep your hair from flying into tangles. Leave-in hair
conditioner helps cut down on static, clingy hair. Indoors, use
water to increase moisture levels and produce negative ions with a
small desk fountain, an aquarium or a humidifier. Or try a
commercial negative ion generator and static guard. And just
remember, it is winter and you're still in that tee shirt.
Mysterious, seductive and strong, the Santa Ana Winds are one of the
unique phenomena that helps gives Southern California its allure. |
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Tips on How to
Live and Breath
in
Southern California's
Santa Ana Winds
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Only ducks sail choppy Balboa Lake when the Santa Ana
Winds are blowing
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In southern California October
through April is the season for The Santa Ana Winds. Hot and
dusty, the Santa Anas carry a large number of positive ions and have
also been called 'ill winds'.
Studies show that positive ion
winds can inflame asthma and worsen other respiratory problems, cause
body pains, headaches, dizziness, nausea and fatigue. They have
also been known to cause depression, anxiety, irritation, exhaustion
and insecurity.
The winds are formed when the inland Mojave and Sonoran Deserts are
cold. Known as downslope winds, air is drawn through the
mountains down into the Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and northern
San Diego County.
There are a few things southern Californians can try to counteract the
negative effects caused by the positive ions in the Santa Ana
winds. First, use a heavy duty moisturizer, body lotion (with
beeswax) and lip balm. Rehydrate yourself with plenty of water
and juice. Protect your skin from the dust with long sleeves, and
a hat or scarf will keep your hair from flying into tangles.
Leave-ion conditioner helps too.
Natural fiber clothing will help reduce static electricity. Use
anti static dryer sheets in the laundry, on the couch and on other
fabrics.
Indoors, use water to help produce negative ions with a
small desk fountain, an aquarium, bowls of water, or a
humidifier. Or try a commercial negative ion generator and static
guard. Plants are always welcome indoors and also help clean the
air. And just remember, it is winter and you're still in that tee
shirt.
Here is a great site with maps, models and
information by Robert G.
Fovell, Assoc. Prof., Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic
Sciences at UCLA
http://www.atmos.ucla.edu/~fovell/ASother/mm5/SantaAna/winds.html
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