The Santa Ana winds that are driving the deadly wildfires destroying thousands of buildings in the greater Los Angeles area are also responsible for numerous blow-overs of tractor-trailers.
The powerful winds blew over more than a dozen tractor-trailers earlier this week.The driver of one tractor-trailer died when his rig was blown over and crashed into a guardrail on Interstate 15 in Fontana, which is about 50 miles east of Los Angeles.
The California Highway Patrol posted to Facebook, "The strong winds wrecked havoc on our roadways today as our Riverside CHP officers responded to numerous overturned semi-trucks due to strong winds. Remember if you are operating a high profile vehicle, please be careful as this high wind warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. on Wednesday."
The National Weather Service says Santa Ana winds are "a weather condition in which strong, hot, dust-bearing winds descend to the Pacific Coast around Los Angeles from inland desert regions."
The wildfires driven by the Santa Ana winds have killed at least 10 people, destroyed at least 10,000 buildings, and caused between $135 billion and $150 billion of damage.
