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Drought and Santa Ana Winds Worsen Los Angeles Fires

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Image Name: Wildfire at Los Angeles

Image Credit: AFP

A combination of protracted drought, very dry conditions, and strong Santa Ana winds fuels several Los Angeles areas’ out-of-control flames. These fires have claimed two lives, wrecked more than a thousand buildings, and burned tens of thousands of acres across the area as of Wednesday.

Recent News on the Fire Impact Fast-moving flames have torn across Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Altadena, and Sylmar, north of San Fernando. Strong winds, some reaching over 100 mph, aggravate the flames. Together with a dry Southern California landscape, these winds have produced the perfect environment for large wildfires to start and spread quickly.

Expert on wildfires from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Max Moritz noted the area’s consistent lack of precipitation. “We haven’t had significant rain for hundreds of days, thus the area is vulnerable,” he said.

The Part Played by Climate Change
These severe conditions have been connected by experts to more general consequences of climate change. More frequent altered rainfall patterns and more severe droughts have become very typical, raising the wildfire risk. Particularly in areas prone to drought, Moritz underlined that such trends will keep endangering livelihoods and lives.

Southern California typically experiences its rainy season from December to February. However, the past eight months have been abnormally dry. Unlike Northern California, which has seen periodic rain, Los Angeles hasn’t recorded more than one-tenth of an inch of rainfall since early May. This has left Southern California in a state of moderate to severe drought, as noted by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Parts of San Diego County are experiencing their driest start to winter in over 150 years, according to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA. Swain described the powerful Santa Ana winds as an “atmospheric blowdryer” that worsens the already dry conditions, setting the stage for devastating fires.

Ongoing Fire Outbreaks and Challenges

Three major fires are currently raging across the region:

  • The Palisades Fire has burned over 15,000 acres.
  • The Eaton Fire, ignited Tuesday evening in the Pasadena and Altadena areas, has engulfed more than 10,000 acres.
  • The Hurst Fire in Sylmar has grown to 500 acres.

None of these fires are contained, presenting immense challenges for firefighting teams. Efforts to control the flames are hindered by strong winds and dry conditions, which continue to fuel the spread of the fires.

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned that gusty winds and dry conditions would persist through Friday, maintaining high fire risk across the region. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center also confirmed that offshore winds would remain a significant threat during this period.

Unusual Weather Patterns Worsen the Crisis
Santa Ana winds, which gain strength as they blow downslope from the Great Basin toward the Pacific coast, are typical in Southern California during this time of year. However, the bone-dry landscape adds an unusual and dangerous element to these seasonal winds.

“Normally, the landscape would be wet by now, significantly reducing the chances of ignition and the risk of massive fires spreading uncontrollably,” Moritz explained.

Climate Change and the Future of Wildfires
Destructive wildfires like those currently impacting Los Angeles are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Almost all of California’s largest wildfires have occurred within the last decade, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

Hot, dry, and windy conditions are the primary ingredients for wildfires. While researchers are still studying how climate change may affect wind patterns, its impact on rainfall and drought is already evident.

“Climate change is causing more erratic and extreme precipitation patterns,” Moritz said. These patterns include wetter wet periods and drier dry periods, creating significant challenges for regions like Southern California.

Such extremes can lead to severe flooding at one time, as seen earlier this year in March, followed by prolonged drought. This volatility heightens the risk of extreme weather events, including devastating wildfires.

“That is the signal of climate in all of this,” Moritz said. “We have opened this window whereby these catastrophic events can happen more often and with more force.”

Community Effect and Reaction
The ongoing flames have destroyed houses, displaced families, and drained local resources. While firemen and emergency response personnel are nonstop extinguishing the blazes, strong winds and dry weather create tremendous challenges.

As officials keep an eye on the matter, residents are advised to keep informed of safety procedures and evacuation instructions.

The Los Angeles flames are a sobering reminder of the increasing dangers extreme weather and climate change provide. Experts underline the need for long-term plans to reduce wildfire hazards, increase disaster readiness, and solve the underlying causes of climate change as societies heal from this most recent calamity.

This content was adapted from an article in the NBC News

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