From flooding to wildfires: California’s extreme weather

Wildfires continue to engulf large swaths of California, as firefighters working to gain control of one of the most devastating fires in recent memory. So far, at least 15 have died across the state as the fire continues to spread.

In just a matter of 24 hours, the state has reported that the fires have spread over a 30-mile area. These fires are causing chaos across Northern California, as nearly 1,500 structures are damaged or destroyed, with the fires largely fueled by a combination of dry vegetation, low humidity, and Santa Ana winds.

Thanks to one of the wettest winters on record, which caused massive flooding in California and ended a five-year-long drought, the state saw an abundance of green vegetation. As the months went by, a summer full of record-breaking temperatures dried out the vegetation and created fuel for fall fires.

Fires are no stranger to the West, as they occur each and ever year during the drier months. For California, the fire season usually kicks in at the start of October due to an occasional shift in winds. California’s climate is usually driven by cool, moisture rich air coming in off the Pacific Ocean, but during the fall and winter months, the desert southwest gets much colder than the Los Angeles basin. This creates a large area of high pressure, which spins clockwise and brings in very cold and dry desert air.

This air travels up and over the mountains and into the California valleys. As the wind rushes down the mountains, it compresses and warms rapidly as it gains speed, sometimes up to 50-plus miles per hour.

While no precipitation is expected in California over the next week, the winds are expected to die down. This would create an ideal situation for firefighters, as they continue to battle one of the state’s more devastating firestorms.

Stay with ABC17 News as we continue to follow the California firestorms and follow us on twitter @ABC17Stormtrack.