What are the "Santa Ana Winds" like in Anaheim or Irvine?

[Fontucky]

No, Nita was his schoolmarm.

[Charles]

Curmudgeon and Nita online dating - way ahead of their time.

It almost worked but he wasn't satisfied with her father's dowry of three sheep and two cows.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Charles

Curmudgeon and Nita online dating - way ahead of their time.

Imagine the telegraph sex back then. Beep..Beep......Beep Beep Beep...... BEEP! BEEP! BEEEEEEP!

[DewDropInn]

Originally Posted by Charles

Who needs people when you have the internet?

WunderMap Interactive Radar & Weather Stations : Weather Underground

I hear "Weather Underground" and I'm not thinking about windspeed.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Charles

This is one of those weird high pressure, borderline Santa Ana conditions with the temperature in Malibu actually warmer than Palmdale Lancaster right now.

WunderMap Interactive Radar & Weather Stations : Weather Underground

Today is another one of those days.

I'm taking my kids to the pool now.

[MrJester]

Originally Posted by markasaur

Be nice, Tom. There are not THAT many people on these forums.

In answer to your question. I've lived in various areas of OC my whole life, and the winds are different in different places. As you go towards the coast, the effect lessens as the sea breeze works to counteract the offshore flow. These winds are warm and very dry and do kick up dust and allergens, but it gives us the most crystal clear days as well when they are done blowing. I happen to love them, but that's not normal... I think a study showed that 85% of people hate them. I currently live in Irvine, about as close to the ocean as you can get in Irvine, and we RARELY even get a breeze from Santa Anas, even when it may be blowing hard inland. Anaheim gets them worse, as they funnel through the canyon in between Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills. Hope that helps.

Funny thing is, I lived in Irvine (near Portola parkway) and the Santa Ana winds were very strong and frequent. Could hardly sleep at night from the noise from the winds. So yeah, near UCI there might hardly be any Santa Ana winds but on the other side of Irvine they are very strong.

[MrJester]

Originally Posted by markasaur

Be nice, Tom. There are not THAT many people on these forums.

In answer to your question. I've lived in various areas of OC my whole life, and the winds are different in different places. As you go towards the coast, the effect lessens as the sea breeze works to counteract the offshore flow. These winds are warm and very dry and do kick up dust and allergens, but it gives us the most crystal clear days as well when they are done blowing. I happen to love them, but that's not normal... I think a study showed that 85% of people hate them. I currently live in Irvine, about as close to the ocean as you can get in Irvine, and we RARELY even get a breeze from Santa Anas, even when it may be blowing hard inland. Anaheim gets them worse, as they funnel through the canyon in between Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills. Hope that helps.

Parts of Irvine (like Northwood Pointe, near Portola) are further inland, and they get a lot of Santa Ana winds. I lived in Northwood Pointe for 15 years and the Santa Ana winds would rattle your windows so hard you couldn't sleep.

[kauaidooley]

Tom,

been in Orange County since 1955, but born and raised in California.

Santa Ana winds are generally out of the N.E. and are created by high pressure areas well to the east of us. Those winds blow over the warm deserts, and thru our mountain passes, and the venturies thru the passes increase the strength of the winds .

So, living below the passes and along the paths of those winds , you will be getting stronger wind speeds and higher gusts and warmer temps.

We recently lived in Huntington Harbor for 12 years, and had some effects from the Santa Ana Winds, but not a big deal.
Moved to Kauai for 10 years and now are back in Dana Point. Five years now and have not had any serious Santa Ana Winds that caused any problems for us. We are within a five minute walk to Salt Creek Beach.

When in Newport Beach, the Santa Ana's, sweeping down from Santa Ana Canyon, could get quite strong as it can in the Irvine area.

As to the physical effects from the Santa Ana Winds, that can be a very individual situation, and can vary from person to person.

Also, some one mentioned that the windy areas can vary with the location of the high pressure system . That is correct.

It all comes down to personal choices, and no matter where we chose to live , mother nature has the hammer. When I look at the weather conditions and events through out the USA....people have snow storms, blizzards, weeks or months of thunderstorms, strong winds, rains, cyclones, hurricanes, and long months of winter dullness and hibernation.

Their choice, and that is how it should be.

We selected Dana Point and living at the beach as our new and hopefully permanent home, milder weather than inland,
bed rock, so no liquifaction from earthquakes, no real problem from Santa Ana winds, and not baking hot in the summer time like inland O.C.

The other areas that we thought about moving back to, were Seal Beach and the Huntington Harbor area. But south County at the beach won the contest. Been back now for five years and absolutely love were we live and roam.

And roam we do, along our other coastal towns and hiking areas, also , go out to dinner and fun times in our sister towns of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente. Also up to Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach, and Seal Beach.

Add in three day or more trips to our deserts and mountains for easy stay cations.

Orange County is a pretty great place to live, you just have to select what is appropriate for you . For us it was
Dana Point, and previously other beach cities .

Denny and Erica.

[kauaidooley]

Catalina, and Santa Ana Winds.... North Easterly winds. From of the NE.

Depends on the strength of those winds as to the effect of the winds and seas at Catalina, meaning on the AVALON. side, and Desconso, White Bay, Two Harbors, Isthmus, Forth of july, Cherry Cove, and Emerald Bay, etc.

Light Santa Ana winds would disaipate and not be a problem, but strong Santa Ana's would reach out across the San Pedro Channel, and slam wind and waves into those anchorages and mooring areas, making them dangerous and untenable.

You had to get around to the back side where there are fewer mooring areas or anchorages, Prior checking of the weather conditions is very important.

And, it is correct about that brown area obscuring or laying along the island . It is still visible from over town " ( the coastal cities of Socal.)

Those winds, also could batter the boats and docks in Newport Bay, after they roared thru the canyons .


Another clue, aircraft landing and taking off at Orange County John Wayne, or Fullerton would depart and make approaches into those winds using the opposite runway headings from normal approaches/take offs....into the winds. Runway 01 at Orange County, or 6 at Fullerton. Runway numbers, correspond to Magnetic heading, Run 1 , add a zero # 10 degrees ( north ). Fullerton runway 6 would be 60 degrees.....( North East )

the above might help out the OP as to areas for a residence. Or just bight the bullet and live with that occasional weather
situation as just part of living here and working in Santa Ana on Main Street.

There are more situations than sitting in an office or in your home in relation to those Santa Ana Winds.....as in sailing boats, or flying airplanes or driving high profile vehicles.

Point being, check the weather forecasts, We really like Weather Underground ( computer) and of course Aviation and Marine Forecasts as well. Dallas Rains does a good job on ABC ( channel 7 ) as to TV weather reports. Be prepared .

It is all part of living, working, and loving and playing in Orange County.


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