Special wind experiments are underway in the Santa Barbara County foothills to help researchers learn more about the unique sundowner winds that squeeze through the coastal passes under certain conditions. They are known for generating high speed gusts and rapidly rising temperatures.
» Watch video
A trend of warming temperatures is forecast to continue, he said, adding that “there are a lot more unknowns in terms of the precipitation.” Temperatures are increasing and relative humidity is decreasing in coastal areas, particularly at high elevations and on mountain slopes, said Leila Carvalho, a professor of meteorology and climatology in UC Santa Barbara’s Department of Geography.
» Read more
The beautiful Santa Ynez mountains that Santa Barbara County is famous for has a not so pretty side to it. The winds that stoke the fires in the region descend from the southern slopes of the mountains. These downslope winds tend to be stronger around sunset and so are known as "sundowners."
» Read more
Sundowners. It’s a word that strikes fear in the hearts of all Santa Barbarans, especially on those warm summer nights when the light fades and dry air starts rolling down the mountains. The South Coast–specific weather event has triggered nearly all of the region’s major wildfires, including the recent Sherpa, Whittier, and devastating Thomas, yet there’s been surprisingly little research done on the atmospheric dynamics that create such tinderbox conditions.
» Read more
The scene plays out frequently in Southern California: Hot, dry winds blow in from the mountains, fanning a small brushfire into a true conflagration. Santa Barbara has its own version of these downslope winds known to peak around sunset in the southern slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains, earning them the moniker “sundowners.”
» Read more