Red flag warnings of critical fire danger will linger across much of SoCal for the rest of the work week, as Santa Ana winds slowly diminish but continue to blast the region at above-normal velocity.

Santa Ana winds are caused by strong high pressure over the Great Basin region of the West creating a pressure gradient that amps up winds through the mountains, foothills and sometimes valleys of Southern California. In this case, the winds are getting a major boost from a strong upper-level low pushing southward across the state.