Why Wildfires In Los Angeles Occur Every Year
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
Image: AFP
Wildfires are part of life in the US West and play a vital role in nature. But it can have a devastating effect as well
Image: AFP
While fire season in Southern California is generally thought to stretch from May to October, rising temperatures and decreased precipitation have extended its duration
Image: AFP
In some parts of the state, fire season is considered to be an all-year affair
Image: AFP
One of the big reasons is that Santa Ana winds blow across the region, typically in the fall and winter
Image: AFP
These winds can reach up to 161 km per hour (100 mph), making them powerfully effective at fanning flames and spreading lofted embers
Image: AFP
The other big driver of the extreme fires is the abundance of dried-out grass and vegetation, a consequence of recent weather patterns
Image: AFP
According to a report, Southern California had two decades of drought that were followed by two exceptionally wet years
Image: AFP
It sparked furious vegetative growth -- leaving the region packed with fuel and primed to burn
Image: AFP
Also, human-caused climate change has exacerbated weather conditions favorable for more intense wildfires
Image: AFP
So, extreme fire weather is driven by a combination of high temperatures, dryness, available fuel, and high winds
Image: AFP
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