Fire officials are still investigating the precise cause of the deadly, fast-moving, wind-driven infernos near Los Angeles. However, one significant factor has intensified the flames and facilitated their rapid spread: the weather.
In what has been one of the most severe wind events in at least the last decade, California is grappling with widespread, intense winds that triggered the firestorms. Ken Clark, AccuWeather’s California Weather Expert, who has been forecasting weather in the state for 50 years, ranks the event among his top two or three in terms of severity.
Beyond 'Santa Ana:' widespread, intense winds
The relentless hurricane-force winds have fueled devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, their power both seen and heard as they wreak havoc over several days.
This situation is worse than your typical Santa Ana wind event. "I've seen wind gusts of 90 to 100 mph across some of the ridge tops in LA County, but it's not just the strength of the winds. It's how widespread they are," said Clark. "This event has affected many areas that typically don't experience such strong winds, contributing to the firestorm we've seen over the past 24 hours."
Extreme drought: California's 'haves and have-nots'
The wintertime weather patterns in California can generally be attributed to the jet stream, which has remained farther north than normal throughout the winter. This resulted in Northern California receiving a fair amount of rain and mountain snow while Southern California has remained almost entirely dry.
"San Diego is experiencing its driest start to winter ever, with the period from July 1 to Jan. 8 being the driest on record," explained Clark. Historical data shows that Los Angeles has not received a quarter of an inch of rain since mid-April last year.
The lack of precipitation has left the region's vegetation as dry as it would be during the hot summer months. "The grasses and trees are extremely dry and highly flammable, contributing to the rapid spread of fires," said Clark. The widespread dry fuels left the landscape primed for rapidly spreading wildfires.
Is the threat over?
The strong winds will gradually die down; however, Clark emphasized that the winds will not completely subside. "We will still have winds in the fire areas right through Thursday," he noted.
Adding to the concern, Clark reports that California is likely to experience two more Santa Ana wind events in the coming days. "We're expecting another wind event on Thursday night and Friday and possibly another one on Sunday. These will be more typical Santa Anas and not as strong as the current winds, but they will still bring conditions we certainly don't want."
