‘Weather whiplash’ helped drive this year’s California wildfires

This story was originally published by Inside Climate News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Many Californians are hoping for heavy rain to help contain the wildfires that have ravaged the state this summer. Climatologists attribute the severity of this year’s fires to the heavy winter rains that fueled the growth of fine fuels, such as grasses and shrubs. The rapid growth of these fuels, coupled with record-breaking summer heat, created the perfect conditions for wildfires to spread quickly. Homeowners in grassland areas need to prepare for wildfires just as much as those living in forested regions. Studies show that the majority of structure loss in wildfires is due to human-related ignitions, emphasizing the importance of fire prevention and community resilience efforts. Weather whiplash, characterized by extreme shifts in weather patterns, is expected to continue contributing to intense fire seasons in the future.