Santa Ana winds will continue whipping through Southern California through Thursday, sparking fears that progress made fighting wildfires that have scorched over 40,000 acres and left 28 dead could be reversed and more blazes could break out.

The Hughes Fire near Castaic, California, has burned over 5,000 acres, prompting evacuations and school closures.

Just a few years after the ozone hole was detected via satellite, the industrialized nations of the world, meeting in Montreal in 1987, adopted what is known as the Montreal Protocol.

The blaze has burned just over 14,000 acres near Pasadena. It is 89% contained. This fire has burned 80 acres in San Diego County and is 30% contained. Jacey Fortin The Friars fire burned a few acres in San Diego’s Mission Valley neighborhood Tuesday afternoon,

The winds will come and go, with the strongest gusts expected early next week, especially next Monday night and into Tuesday, forecasters said.

After a much quieter weekend, Southern California is experiencing a major shift in the weather pattern. The winds will peak Monday evening and overnight but extend into Tuesday morning.

The Santa Anas are expected to be most powerful Monday night into Tuesday. Fire services across the region say they are ready.

The winds fueling Southern California wildfires form when a high-pressure system develops over the Great Basin in Utah and Nevada

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.

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

A rare Particularly Dangerous Situation warning has been issued for Southern California as a powerful and potentially damaging Santa Ana wind event​ is expected.