SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- The wind is blowing in California which adding fuel to the fires in Los Angeles County. Wind speeds of 40 mph to 70 mph are predicted for that region Tuesday and into Wednesday. Those winds are the Santa Ana winds that are most frequent in the cooler months from September through May, according to the National Weather Service. SD native back in CA home after voluntarily leaving "Santa Ana winds are dry northeast winds that more or less come off the mountains in California," KELOLAND meteorologist Scot Mundt said. "As they come off the mountains they compress and they heat up and they are also very dry wind too. In the process of doing that they can pick up speed and that's what's been happening in California." The video below provided by Mundt shows how Santa Ana winds flow from the mountains. "Santa Ana winds typically feel warm (or even hot) because as the cool desert air moves down the side of the mountain, it is compressed, which causes the temperature of the air to rise," the NWS said on a website page. The dry wind and the speed can spread fire across a landscape, especially when conditions are dry, according to the NWS. As of Tuesday morning, CBS reported there were 24 deaths related to the fire and more than 12,000 structures were destroyed. The largest fires are the Palisades and Easton wildfires. The consistent high speed of the wind is one way the Santa Ana winds are different then most wind in South Dakota. SD crews ready to fight California fires The western part of the state can get strong winds, Mundt said, and that's a taste of what is being experienced in California. "(California Santa Ana winds are) coming in at hurricane force which is 74 mph and greater. Think of our windy day here. I would consider our windy day when we get a wind gust of 30 mph or more," Mundt said. "Even over the past couple of months I know we've had some wind gusts in central South Dakota of over 60 mph in Pierre. Sioux Falls we've had wind gusts over the past month, month and half at over 50 mph. Well, add 20, 25 mph to that and that's what they are dealing with in California." South Dakota doesn't have mountains but there are pressure systems. "Our wind here is more or less run by pressure systems. The difference between high pressure and low pressure," Mundt said. "During the spring and summer we've notice that our winds pick up a lot because Mother Nature is always trying to balance itself out." High pressure overhead usually results in lighter wind, Mundt said. But Mother Nature will adjust and brings in different winds speeds as pressure systems move through the central and upper plains, he said.