Let’s start with meteorology. The Palisades wildfire and nearby conflagrations were well predicted several days in advance. After a typically dry summer and fall, the Los Angeles area has also experienced a dry winter so far. Usually in December, January, February and March. rainiest month in remote areas. More than 80 percent of Los Angeles’ rain falls during this cold season. But this December, the region averaged less than a tenth of an inch of rainfall. Typical totals are about 2.5 inches in December.
As a result, the foliage on trees in the area was already very dry, effectively extending the region’s wildfire season. Strong winds from the Santa Ana region were expected to blow this week, due in part to the extreme cold observed in the eastern United States and the high pressure system in the Great Basin region of the United States. Locally, “red flag” winds were forecast, meaning winds combined with dry ground could help wildfires spread efficiently. The immediate cause of the Palisades fire is still unknown.
Wildfires in California during the winter are not a common occurrence, but they are also unprecedented. But scientists generally agree that global warming is prolonging wildfire seasons like the one observed in California.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “climate change, including increased heat, longer droughts, and a drier atmosphere, has been the primary driver of increased wildfire risk and extent in the western United States over the past 20 years.” states. conclusion. “Wildfires require the coordination of many factors, including temperature, humidity, and lack of moisture in fuels such as trees, shrubs, grass, and forest debris. All of these factors are directly linked to climate change and There is a strong indirect relationship.
