For several days, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles was warning of an extremely dangerous wind event that would be coupled with exceptionally low humidity levels, creating the potential for an incredibly destructive firestorm in the region. Sadly, it seems those dire forecasts have now been realized.
Several large, currently uncontained fires have broken out in the Los Angeles area and are burning out of control as of Wednesday, January 8, 2025. The winds that fanned these highly dangerous fires are expected to calm a bit in the coming days, which will probably help firefighters get a better handle on controlling these blazes. The winds are so high, it has not been possible to perform water drops that are usually done from aircraft to battle the flames.
The fire came on so quickly in some areas, that people have had to abandon their homes and cars and run from the danger. “People were getting out of the cars with their dogs and babies and bags,” area resident Kelsey Trainor told The Associated Press.
The AP has some tips for staying safe when wildfires are in the forecast.
One of these fires, known as the Palisades fire, has now become the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history. The entire Los Angeles Fire Department was called into work last night, and Governor Gavin Newsom has also called in the National Guard for assistance.
These fires have caused the deaths of two people and one firefighter was seriously injured. At least 1,000 structures have been destroyed. About 22 square miles (56 square kilometers) have been burned, and around 70,000 people have been told to evacuate so far.
The forecast today noted that the incredibly high wind speeds, which are now between 70 and 90 mph, will begin to drop slightly in the coming hours. But while those winds will decline, the fire warnings will not abate until the evening of Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
These high winds have downed both trees and power lines, caused widespread power outages, creating hazardous driving conditions, increased traffic, and airport delays.
They have also caused a phenomenon known as strong breaking mountain waves. These happen when strong winds moving toward mountains at a relatively perpendicular angle then become raised over the mountains. Sometimes these rising winds hit a barrier of stable air over the mountains, which redirects the winds toward the Earth's surface. But these winds don't reach the earth, and instead undulate like waves downwind of the mountains. This pattern can then extend over hundreds of miles.
Although wildfire season in California tends to run from about June until October, wildfires in the month of January were initially observed around 2021, and there were some in 2022. This time of year also tends to be the time when Santa Ana winds are the worst, although one LA-area meteorologist noted on a broadcast last night that the size of the region being affected by these winds is unusually large. The effects of climate change are likely becoming more evident, though scientists have not yet directly linked climate change to these fires.
The wildfire season is also changing with the climate. It now starts sooner because of persistent drought conditions and increasing temperatures. Some problems with public infrastructure have also been highlighted by this fire, as several very large water tanks that hold about one millon gallons each, all ran dry because of huge demand on the system because of widespread firefighting efforts. Area residents are now being asked to conserve water because the fires are ongoing.
Sources: National Weather Service, Associated Press
