Critical fire weather is expected to continue until Wednesday at the earliest, increasing the risk that fires will spread further.

In recent days, however, the region’s powerful Santa Ana winds—which have been fanning the flames—have begun to slow down. This lull has offered firefighters a reprieve and a key opportunity to make progress against the blazes, but forecasts suggest the Santa Ana will return next week. What are these gusts, and how have they become so strong?

More than 100,000 LA residents have been evacuated from their homes and about 29,000 acres (11,300 hectares) have been burned by the five fires as of early Thursday morning (Jan. 9.) The fires have destroyed more than 1,000 structures so far and five confirmed fatalities have been reported, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Firefighters braced for high winds, with the National Weather Service of LA issuing its most serious advisory, “Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS)".

A damaging Santa Ana wind event was peaking early Wednesday and was expected to stay strong through early afternoon.

A damaging Santa Ana ... the Eaton Fire was about 1,000 acres and the Hurst Fire was about 500 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. All were zero percent ...

A new Santa ... California. The largest, the Palisades Fire, has spread by late Sunday to 23,713 acres with only 13% containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire ...

Parts of Santa Monica were ordered to be evacuated as fast-moving flames destroyed homes along the coast in Los Angeles. Winds were picking up overnight, potentially fueling the fires.

Strong Santa ... fire risk. As of Sunday, the Palisades blaze, the largest in the city, is only 11 percent contained. Newsweek contacted the NWS and California Department of Forestry and Fire ...

The Palisades and Eaton wildfires are raging in Los Angeles, closing roads and canceling flights. Here's what to know about traveling to LA right now.