High winds and a lack of rain are driving the Southern California fires, but climate change is increasing the likelihood of these wildfires.
High winds and a lack of rain are the primary drivers of the Southern California fires, but climate change is altering the underlying conditions, increasing the likelihood of these wildfires, according to experts. Researchers have shown that a warming world leads to an increase in 'fire weather' days when conditions are more conducive to fire outbreaks. California is particularly vulnerable right now due to a lack of rain in recent months, following a very warm summer.
The powerful Santa Ana winds that naturally occur at this time of year, combined with dry conditions, can result in fast-moving and dangerous fire outbreaks. Reaching 60-70 mph, these strong, dry winds blow from the interior of Southern California towards the coast, and this month has witnessed the worst high wind event in the area in over a decade. The winds are drying out the land, and researchers say that while the strongest winds will occur at the start of this outbreak, the driest vegetation will come at the end, meaning these fires could persist for quite some time. The high wind speeds are also changing the location of the fires. Many outbreaks occur high up on mountains, but these recent fires have rapidly moved down into the valleys and into areas where more people live. 'That's where there are more potential ignition sources,' said climate researcher Daniel Swain from UCLA in a social media post. 'It's also where it's harder to turn off the power pre-emptively than it is in other locations where these public safety power shut-offs are more common and are prepped for at a more regular basis. So there's going to be some potential challenges there.' California has experienced a decades-long drought that ended just two years ago. The resulting wet conditions since then have seen the rapid growth of shrubs and trees, the perfect fuel for fires. However last summer was very hot and was followed by a dry autumn and winter season - downtown Los Angeles has only received
CLIMATE CHANGE WILDFIRES CALIFORNIA SANTA ANA WINDS DROUGHT
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