As the South prepped for snow and more cold starting Wednesday, residents in Southern California faced off with hurricane-strength winds.

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

The Santa Ana winds are dry, powerful winds that blow down the mountains toward the Southern California coast. The region sees about 10 Santa Ana wind events a year on average, typically occurring from fall into January. When conditions are dry, as they are right now, these winds can become a severe fire hazard.

Southern Californians are bracing for gusty winds and a heightened risk of wildfires less than two weeks after deadly blazes that have killed at least

"A strong Santa Ana Wind event is expected to develop Monday and last through at least Tuesday," the National Weather Service said.

As Southern California shifts into recovery mode after the devastating wildfires, residents should stay on alert on Monday and Tuesday with high winds returning. The National Weather Service has issued another Red Flag Warning from 10 a.

Elevated fire threat is accompanying the return of Santa Ana winds that are taking aim for Southern California at the beginning of the week. While the Southland’s weather conditions have been relatively mellow throughout the weekend,

Southern Californians are bracing for gusty winds and a heightened risk of wildfires, as another Santa Ana wind event is expected to bring back fire danger to the region.The National Weather Service has issued a warning of a "particularly dangerous situation" for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning due to low humidity and damaging Santa Ana winds.

Another moderate to strong Santa Ana wind event is expected to develop across Southern California during the first half of the workweek, heightening wildfire dangers in a region still coping with the last significant firestorm from nearly two weeks ago.