Impact of Climate Change on Wildfires

Climate change significantly influences the frequency and intensity of wildfires, particularly in Southern California. The combination of unusually strong Santa Ana winds and an increasingly volatile climate creates prime conditions for fire spread. This cycle often begins with wet winters that encourage lush plant growth, followed by dry summers that leave the vegetation highly flammable. The phenomenon of longer dry seasons overlapping with wind events exacerbates the risk of catastrophic wildfires, as seen in the recent devastating fires that struck Los Angeles.