Comparing Hurricane Sandy with Santa Ana Winds
Comparing Hurricane Sandy with Santa Ana Winds
By Gary Robbins
October 28, 2012
Some of the winds generated by Hurricane Sandy are in the 40 mph to 60 mph range, roughly the same speed as the Santa Anas that whipped inland San Diego County last Thursday and Friday. Are the two weather systems alike?
Not at all, says Phil Gonsalves, a forecaster at the National Weather Service in Rancho Bernardo. Here are edited versions of answers Golsalves provide sn Sunday afternoon.
Q: What's the basic difference between the Santa An winds and Hurricane Sandy?
A: The Santa Anas are usually dry winds that blow offshore, from the desert toward the sea. At times, the flow can be moist. But it is usually dry. A hurricane like Sandy moves from the ocean toward land, and it gains power by absorbing warm moisture.
There's also a big difference in where these systems happen. Last week's Santa Anas were blowing out of inland canyons in areas that don't have big populations. Sandy is expected to come ashore in areas that are densely populated.
Also, the Santa Anas often smooth the face of incoming waves. Hurricanes do the opposite, roiling the water.
Q: Are Santa Ana winds shorter-lived than tropical events?
A: Not necessarily. There are lots of tropical cyclones that develop quickly, then die right away. You don't hear much about those. The bigger events last longer. But there's still a very fundamental difference between these two systems: The Santa Anas are dry, and the tropical storms are wet.
By Gary Robbins
October 28, 2012
Some of the winds generated by Hurricane Sandy are in the 40 mph to 60 mph range, roughly the same speed as the Santa Anas that whipped inland San Diego County last Thursday and Friday. Are the two weather systems alike?
Not at all, says Phil Gonsalves, a forecaster at the National Weather Service in Rancho Bernardo. Here are edited versions of answers Golsalves provide sn Sunday afternoon.
Q: What's the basic difference between the Santa An winds and Hurricane Sandy?
A: The Santa Anas are usually dry winds that blow offshore, from the desert toward the sea. At times, the flow can be moist. But it is usually dry. A hurricane like Sandy moves from the ocean toward land, and it gains power by absorbing warm moisture.
There's also a big difference in where these systems happen. Last week's Santa Anas were blowing out of inland canyons in areas that don't have big populations. Sandy is expected to come ashore in areas that are densely populated.
Also, the Santa Anas often smooth the face of incoming waves. Hurricanes do the opposite, roiling the water.
Q: Are Santa Ana winds shorter-lived than tropical events?
A: Not necessarily. There are lots of tropical cyclones that develop quickly, then die right away. You don't hear much about those. The bigger events last longer. But there's still a very fundamental difference between these two systems: The Santa Anas are dry, and the tropical storms are wet.
Summary:
People began to question why the winds in Santa Ana were beginning to feel like the same speed as the wind in Hurricane Sandy. Some people even questioned if a hurricane was going to occur. But the main reason why these two situations aren't at the very most alike is because Santa Ana winds are dryer than of Hurricane Sandy's. Tropical storms cause wet winds. The difference of the two are Santa Ana dry winds don't blow on shore and it is always dry. In this storm the wind moves from the ocean to land.
I chose this article because we need to know the difference between the winds. People quickly assumed that this conspiracy of the wind was going to a hurricane in Santa Ana. The wind is dry not wet. Knowing what the different ways the wind blows can help people prepare themselves for anything whether it'd be for a hurricane or a dust storm.
I chose this article because we need to know the difference between the winds. People quickly assumed that this conspiracy of the wind was going to a hurricane in Santa Ana. The wind is dry not wet. Knowing what the different ways the wind blows can help people prepare themselves for anything whether it'd be for a hurricane or a dust storm.