Santa Ana Winds Effect on Humans: Physical and Psychological Effects

Santa Ana Winds are infamous for causing wildfires in Southern California. However, these winds are not only having negative effects on the environment. Reports said Santa Ana Winds also create discomfort for people living in Southern California. What is Santa Ana Winds effect on humans?

Santa Ana Winds are a common meteorological phenomenon in California. The winds typically occur 10 to 25 times a year, between September to March. Moreover, a Santa Ana wind averagely lasts for 3 days. However, in some cases, the wind lasts for 7 to 14 days.

What are Santa Ana Winds?

Santa Ana Winds are a weather condition in the form of strong winds. The speed of these winds can reach over 64 km/h. Furthermore, the winds are not only strong but also hot, dry, and dust-bearing.  

As a katabatic wind, Santa Anas flow downhill from higher regions, particularly inland desert regions, to the Pacific Coast. During the Santa Ana Winds phenomenon, the coast is typically hotter than the desert. 

The speed, temperature, and low humidity of these winds can harm the environment. They can worsen wildfires in merely hours. Moreover, they can trigger the development of large ocean waves. 

However, not all Santa Ana winds effects are bad for nature. During Santa Ana Winds, the chlorophyll concentrations on the surface of Southern California waters are insignificant. Moreover, the winds cause the cold seawater to rise to the surface. This phenomenon is beneficial for fisheries.

Santa Ana Winds Effect on Humans

Aside from affecting nature, Santa Ana Winds also affect humans. These winds can cause several health issues, discomfort, and even death. Below are the negative effects of Santa Ana winds on Southern California’s residents.

1. Respiratory Problems 

The Santa Ana winds effect on humans is causing respiratory issues. These winds spread dust, pollens, and other small particles. Therefore, people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, will suffer from respiratory problems when exposed to Santa Anas.

The symptoms of these respiratory issues are typically similar to allergic reactions, e.g., runny nose, sneezing, and shortness of breath. Consequently, people with respiratory allergies, asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory issues must avoid outdoor activities during a Santa Ana Wind.

2. Dry Skin and Chapped Lips

Other Santa Ana Winds health effects are dry skin and chapped lips. These winds are strong and dry. Therefore, they can quickly remove moisture from the top skin layer. Consequently, people exposed to these winds may suffer from dry skin and chapped lips.

Those with a dry skin condition may suffer worse symptoms, such as flaking and cracking. Therefore, people in Southern California must protect their skin and lips from dryness during the Santa Ana Wind.

One of the things they can do to protect their skin is frequently apply skin or lips moisturizer. Moreover, they must drink plenty of water, apply some sunscreen on their skin, and use mild and gentle soap to clean their skin. 

3. Valley Fever

The Santa Ana Winds effect on humans is Valley fever or Coccidioidomycosis. This is a disease caused by Coccidioides posadasii and Coccidioides immits spores. The strong Santa Ana winds quickly spread the pathogenic fungus to many nonendemic areas.

Therefore, more people catch this disease. Valley fever causes them to suffer from headaches, muscle pains, fever, cough, rash, and influenza symptoms. Moreover, it can cause serious complications when the fungus disseminates in the body.

Examples of these complications are severe joint pain, severe pneumonia, meningitis, and urinary tract problems. In some cases, valley fever can lead to death. You can prevent this disease by wearing masks and washing hands with soap after venturing outdoors.

4. Mood and Behavior Issues

Aside from affecting the body, Santa Anas also affects people’s behavior and mood. Many people believe the hot and dry winds can make one feel tense, wrathful, and uneasy. Moreover, the positive ion in these winds can affect their behavior.

5. Power Outage

Santa Ana winds can cause power outages, which can lead to many discomforts during the hot weather. How can these winds trigger power outages? The strong winds often knock down power lines and spark fires. As a result, power outage occurs frequently during Santa Ana Winds.

6. Financial Loss Due to Fires

The dry and strong winds can also cause wildfires to burn residential areas. Furthermore, these winds may spark fires on power lines, which later may lead to house fires.

Due to this disaster, many Southern California residents suffered financial loss during Santa Anas. Some of them even lost their loved ones during house fires caused by these winds.

The Santa Ana Winds effect on humans can be serious. Those winds can cause several health issues and disasters that lead to death. Therefore, people in Southern California must take some precautions to prevent the negative impacts of those winds.