Friday Top of the Scroll: California drought returns: Hot weather, wildfire risks
Drought is back in California for the first time in nearly a year. The update from the U.S. Drought Monitor comes as firefighters battle the state’s largest wildfire of 2024 near Chico. As of midday Thursday, the Park Fire had burned more than 71,000 acres across Butte and Tehama counties and was approximately 3% contained. According to Thursday’s update, “moderate drought” is isolated to Northern California, while “abnormally dry” spots are scattered across the state.
Related articles:
- New York Times: Park Fire, now California’s largest this year, spreads rapidly
- The Wildlife Society: Drought may boost parasite loads in giant salamanders
- KSL.com: Drought returns to Utah, but storms forecast for state’s driest region