LOS ANGELES (KTLA) — As rapidly spreading wildfires force evacuations across the Pacific Palisades region, experts say the region’s prolonged drought is a key factor contributing to the extreme fire danger. I’m warning you.
“It’s completely dry from near Santa Barbara to the south, and we’ve only had a few rains since last season, so we’re in a state where we haven’t had any meaningful rain,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles. “This will continue for nine to 10 months,” he said.
In fact, Swain noted that parts of Southern California are experiencing not only the driest nine-month period on record, but also the start of the driest season on record.
This created ideal conditions for the fire to go from embers to a full-blown crisis, especially when aided by the region’s notorious Santa Ana winds.
Swain said this recent weather event, with its lack of rainfall combined with dangerous winds and tinder-dry conditions, is likely to have a bigger impact on Southern California than a significant storm.
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain talks about the drought conditions that created the perfect storm for the Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025. (UCLA)
He warned that in the midst of a perfect firestorm, even minor weather events could cause major disruptions to daily life, including road closures and widespread power outages.
“Certain roads will be closed to the public to prevent the possibility of fires. A combination of precautionary safety shutoffs by utility companies to reduce risk and actual unintended power cuts will likely result in more than 1 million people “Hundreds of thousands of people, if not more, could experience power outages,” Swain said.
The Palisades Fire was first reported around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 1100 block of North Piedra Morada Drive. By 3:30 p.m., the explosion had covered more than 1,200 acres, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.
After almost a year without heavy rain, Southern California faces the threat of a potentially devastating wildfire season. Experts have warned that the drought-stricken terrain is creating highly flammable conditions, increasing the risk of devastating fires in the coming months.
UCLA officials said the school’s facilities management and emergency response teams actively patrol the campus at night to monitor for fire hazards, keeping an eye out for fallen trees and branches that could cause damage. They say they are monitoring it.
UCLA’s events team worked to secure all signage on campus ahead of Tuesday night’s basketball game against the University of Michigan.
According to CalFire, there is currently no containment of the Palisades Fire. California Governor Gavin Newsom urged Californians to actively track the latest weather conditions on Ready.CA.Gov.
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