EXCLUSIVE: California has a reputation for being warm, but while its average temperatures in the summer months sit around the 28 to 29 degree mark, in January and February they drop down to around 20C
California is burning. Huge wildfires have erupted around US’ most populous state with 1,400 firefighters deployed – but while such events are normally associated with blazing hot sun, this one has come in the middle of January.
California has a reputation for being warm, but while its average temperatures in the summer months sit around the 28 to 29 degree mark, in January and February they drop down to around 20C. Far from baltic conditions, but also not a number many would associate with scorching wildfires.
The reason behind the blazes is thought to come down to what is known as the Santa Ana winds. The wins are made by rising pressure in the Great Basin, which is the desert area between the green, built-up west coast of America, and the rest of the US.
Speaking to the Daily Star , Met Office Expert Meteorologist Brent Walker, said: “The development of the Santa Ana winds has probably aided the development of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. These are not uncommon in winter and tend to develop, in varying degrees of magnitude, when pressure rises strongly, following the passage of weather systems across the region.
“Santa Ana winds can be very strong, reaching 60-70 mph at times. The Santa Ana winds also generate very low humidity, with observations in the areas showing between 15 and 20%. Both strong winds and low humidity aid the spread of wildfires, although don’t necessarily generate them in the first instance. Winds should begin to ease tomorrow.”
These conditions have seen the wildfires spread at an alarming rate. The speed of the winds mean that any kind of spark they encounter can be turned into a fire – be that the remnants of a BBQ to the butt of a cigarette.
Images from the inferno show hills on fire, the sky dark and the only light from the orange glow of the blaze. Houses have been utterly gutted by flames while dramatic footage taken by families out the windows of their cars as they escape shows powerlines on fire and the walled gardens ablaze.
In other images, surfers on the beaches so deeply-associated with laid-back living walk away from the water as columns of fire tower above their heads.
The fires are surrounding the homes of the rich and famous, around areas such as Malibu and the mountains that surround Los Angeles. In all, around 30,000 people have been evacuated, while upsetting footage shows people leading horses through the blaze as they tell interviewers they have already been forces to kill their stablemates.
In one post on X, actor James Woods said: “To all the wonderful people who’ve reached out to us, thank you for being so concerned. Just letting you know that we were able to evacuate successfully. I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing, but sadly houses on our little street are not.”