Dirk Verdoorn breaks down how winds have fueled the fires burning in Los Angeles County. This forecast is from Jan. 8 at 6 a.m.

The winds are common in California in the colder months, but they can sometimes help spread dangerous wildfires.

Parts of Southern California, including Los Angeles, are under an extreme fire risk on Wednesday as Santa Ana winds continue to impact the region. The threat will lessen slightly on Thursday before ramping up again later in the week.

Santa Ana winds will create extreme fire danger and bring the possibility of damaging winds not seen in 10-plus years for some areas.

Santa Ana winds in Southern California are often-fierce winds that topple power lines and trees and can turn a spark into a raging wildfire.

We are under a First Alert Weather Alert until 7 this evening due to Santa Ana winds and their impacts. Red Flag Warnings and High Wind Warnings remain in place through this evening across Southern California,

The fierce Santa Ana winds that stoked a blaze that scorched thousands of acres near Los Angeles will wallop San Diego County early Wednesday, in the start of what forecasters say could be a week or more of off-and-on lashings in a region that’s drier than it’s been in years.