"Southern California is experiencing it’s most devastating winter fires in more than four decades. 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.
Experts say that’s what is turning wildfires into a deadly urban conflagration."
Seth Borenstein reports for the Associated Press January 8, 2025.
SEE ALSO:
"Live Updates: Powerful Winds Fuel Southern California Wildfires" (NBC 4 Los Angeles)
"High Winds, Lack Of Rain And Climate Change Stoking California Fires" (BBC News)
"Fact Check: Why Is Trump Blaming The La Fires On Newsom’s Water Policies?" (CalMatters)
"Live Updates: Evacuations Ordered For Hollywood Hills Fire" (NBC 4 Los Angeles)
"In the Palisades, an Evacuation Disaster Was Years in the Making" (New York Times)
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