Record-breaking Santa Ana winds, extreme drought, and a plunging jet stream have fueled the rapid spread of wildfires in California, forcing thousands to evacuate and raising concerns about the increasing frequency and destructive power of these blazes.
Fires don't usually blaze at this time of year, but specific ingredients have come together to defy the calendar in a fast and deadly manner. Start with supersized Santa Ana winds whipping flames and embers at 100 mph — much faster than normal — and cross that with the return of extreme drought. Add on weather whiplash that grew tons of plants in downpours then record high temperatures that dried them out to make easy-to-burn fuel.
Then there's a plunging and unusual jet stream, and lots of power lines flapping in those powerful gusts. Wildfire rapidly advances around Los Angeles, forcing thousands to flee homes. Tiny, mighty and fast' fires have blazed through America's west in the last couple of decades as the world warms, said University of Colorado fire scientist Jennifer Balch. She published a study in the journal Science last October that looked at 60,000 fires since 2001 and found that the fastest-growing ones have more than doubled in frequency since 2001 and caused far more destruction that slower, larger blazes. 'Fires have gotten faster,' Balch said Wednesday. 'The big culprit we're suspecting is a warming climate that's making it easier to burn fuels when conditions are just right.' Summer fires are bigger usually, but they don't burn nearly as fast. Winter fires 'are much more destructive because they happen much more quickly' said U.S. Geological Survey fire scientist Jon Keeley. AccuWeather estimated damage from the latest fires could reach $57 billion, with the private firm's chief meteorologist, Jonathan Porter, saying 'it may become the worst wildfire in modern California history based on the number of structures burned and economic loss.''It's really just the perfect alignment of everything in the atmosphere to give you this pattern and strong wind,' said Tim Brown, director of the Western Regional Climate Cente
WILDFIRE CALIFORNIA CLIMATE CHANGE SANTA ANA WINDS DROUGHT
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Southern California Rocked by Fast-Spreading Wildfires Fueled by Santa Ana WindsMultiple wildfires are raging across Southern California, driven by intense Santa Ana winds. The Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, and Hurst Fire have prompted mass evacuations, infrastructure damage, and a state of emergency in Los Angeles. Residents are urged to evacuate immediately as firefighters battle the blazes.
Read more »
Deadly Wildfires Rage Through Southern California Fueled by Santa Ana WindsAt least two people have died and several others have been injured as wildfires, including the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, and Woodley fires, burn through thousands of acres in Southern California. The dry landscape and strong Santa Ana winds have contributed to the rapid spread of the fires, prompting widespread evacuations around Los Angeles County.
Read more »
Deadliest Catch Captain's Offseason: From Deadly to Deadly Boring?Captain Keith Colburn's experience on the latest season of 'Deadliest Catch' has been far from ordinary, with a fire, a near-fatal accident, and a terrifying cardiac event. This unusual season makes his usual 'deadly boring' offseason even more significant.
Read more »
UCLA student sues California doctors, says she was 'fast-tracked' into transgender surgeryKaitlyn Schwanemann is an intern for NBC News.
Read more »
After pandemic explosion, California drug overdose deaths are falling fastDrug fatalities have been on a extended decline for the first time in at least a decade.
Read more »
California’s Fast Food Council should halt more mandates on franchisesThings are already rough for local restaurant owners, our employees and our customers. The Fast Food Council should not make a bad problem even worse.
Read more »