Fires and winds

After the fires in Victoria last year, we have been watching the reports of fires in Greece, France and now California with the sort of horrified fascination of a light blinded motorist waiting for the oncoming train. A recent conference discussed the changing nature of fires and the emergence of mega-fires which last for weeks and months - as we experienced last year. However I have been wondering if there has been an increase in the number of days on which we have 'witches winds' and the talk of the Santa Ana winds has prompted me to ask others if they have experienced any such increase. Here we have the North Wind, which affects those who live in Victoria and South Australila, which has local names such as Soul Grabber, Blast Furnice, and Devil's Breath, and I know of the Mistral of France, and of course the Santa Ana winds which have been so prominant. What others are around in the Mediterranean Climate Zones? Are they a feature of all Medit.Plant places? And are they increasing? We have had about a dozen days of 'witches wind' already this year and they are usually not a feature of our lives until after Christmas.
 
Best wishes and luck to those suffering in California.
Margaret Healey
near Ballarat
Victoria Australia
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