Two independent methods for detecting Santa Ana winds — compared side by side in real time.
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🌬️ What are Santa Ana Winds?
Santa Ana winds are hot, dry winds that blow from the desert interior toward the Southern California coast.
They form when high air pressure builds up over Nevada and Utah, pushing air westward through mountain passes and canyons.
As the air descends toward the coast, it warms up and dries out — which is why Santa Ana events bring low humidity and elevated fire danger.
They almost always blow from the northeast or east, and are most common between October and March.
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Classic Algorithm
Uses your home weather station + OpenWeatherMap
Checks 3 simple conditions — all must pass
Wind direction window: 0° – 150° (broader)
Stricter: needs all three criteria simultaneously
Best for: confirming a clear, textbook Santa Ana
iOS Algorithm
Uses NWS observation stations + pressure data + NWS forecast text
Runs 3 independent detection tests — any one can trigger
Wind direction window: 0° – 100° (stricter on direction)
More sensitive: multiple ways to detect an event
Best for: catching marginal or early-stage Santa Anas
Classic Algorithm
Checks your home Oxford weather station in Encinitas, cross-referenced with OpenWeatherMap. All three conditions must be met — simultaneously — to call a Santa Ana wind event.
Classic
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🏠 Oxford Station (Encinitas)
🌍 OpenWeatherMap
Approach: All three must be true at the same time.
Either data source can confirm the condition.
Wind Direction
Is the wind blowing from the northeast?
Requirement: 0° to 150° (northeast through south-southeast)
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iOS Algorithm
Uses official National Weather Service stations, inland-to-coast pressure data, and NWS forecast text. Runs three independent detection tests — a Santa Ana is called if any one of them passes.
iOS
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🏛️ NWS Stations
📊 Pressure Gradient
📋 NWS Forecast Text
Approach: Any one of three tests can trigger detection.
Each test is independent — if any passes, it's a Santa Ana.
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Classic — Today
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Detection result
iOS — Today
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Detection result
Classic — 30 Day Rate
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% of days detected
iOS — 30 Day Rate
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% of days detected
📅 Historical Detection Calendar
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Both detected Santa Ana
Classic only
iOS only
No Santa Ana
No data yet
ⓘ History is recorded each time this page is loaded. Days without data will fill in over time.