The winds are common in California in the colder months, but they can sometimes help spread dangerous wildfires.

The Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires covered more than 5,600 acres of Southern California as of Wednesday morning. Tens of thousands were under mandatory evacuation orders but the fires increased in size overnight, helped by the blustery Santa Ana winds.

High-speed winds this week have the potential to knock over semitrucks and cause other hazardous driving situations. Here's what to know.

Devastating fires in the Los Angeles region are driven by Santa Ana winds blowing from California and Nevada’s interior deserts to the Pacific Ocean.

Lisa Kudrow revealed during an interview on “The Drew Barrymore Show” (via People) that she recently discovered a note the late Matthew Perry left for her inside the “Friends” cookie jar, which he gifted her after they wrapped filming the series finale in January 2004. Kudrow wouldn’t reveal what the letter said but mused: “Timing …

Here’s a look at the often-fierce winds that topple power lines and trees and can turn a spark into a raging wildfire.

At least two fires sparked in Southern California on Jan. 7 amid a “life-threatening and destructive” windstorm event that’s sweeping through the region.

The potentially hazardous conditions are expected Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to the NWS.