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. They help keep Southern California warm during the winter, but they bring their own temper.

The winds are formed when the inland Mojave and Sonoran Deserts are cold, usually from October through March. 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. Sometimes the Santa Ana Winds force pollution from Los Angeles across the Pacific Ocean out 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