Thursday Top of the Scroll: Wildfires in January? Here’s why California wildfire season is worse
As climate change warms the planet, wildfires have become so unpredictable and extreme that new words were invented: firenado, gigafire, fire siege — even fire pandemic. California has 78 more annual “fire days” — when conditions are ripe for fires to spark — than 50 years ago. When is California’s wildfire season? With recurring droughts, it is now year-round. Nothing is as it was. Where are the worst California wildfires? All over. Whatever NIMBYism that gave comfort to some Californians — never having a fire in their community before — no longer applies to most areas. Los Angeles County is the latest victim.
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- CalMatters: Fact check: Why is Trump blaming the LA fires on Newsom’s water policies?
- E&E News by Politico: Trump seizes on California wildfires to roast endangered fish, Dems
- Los Angeles Times: At least 2 water utilities tell Altadena customers: Do not drink the tap water
- TIME: What to know about the LA fire hydrants that ran dry when they were needed most
- Newsweek: Did California releasing reservoir water create shortage for wildfires?
- ABC 10 (Sacramento): Why water supply is a critical need when battling California’s urban wildfires
- Associated Press: Watch: This isn’t the season when nasty California fires normally happen. What factors changed that?
- KQED: Climate scientists warn of growing whiplash effect on weather patterns
- UCLA news release: Floods, droughts, then fires: Hydroclimate whiplash is speeding up globally