The nature of the Santa Ana winds makes them perfectly suited to fueling blazes like the Palisades Fire, and climate change is increasing the risk

Resident Nicolas Libonati said he saw a lot of abandoned cars on the road, and people running toward the coast. "It was kind of a surreal scene," he said.

Evacuations are underway west of Los Angeles where the Palisades Fire broke out during extreme fire weather for Southern California on Tuesday. Winds more than 80 mph have been recorded in the mountains and over 60 mph at lower elevations.