California wildfire risk dropping in the coming days
While wildfires may be far from our minds during the chilly and snowy wintertime, other parts of the country have been dry this season. That has fueled huge fires out west in California with the Franklin Fire threatening the seaside resort city of Malibu in recent days.
The forecast is expected to improve, though. Dry Santa Ana winds that have contributed to explosive fire growth are settling down, helping firefighters battle the blaze.
The Santa Ana winds occur several times throughout the year, typically during the fall when California is hottest and driest. As high pressure develops over the Intermountain West this pushes winds down over the Sierra Nevada into southern California.
These hot and dry winds are the perfect fuel for wildfire growth. The Franklin Fire grew 40% in size in just a day between Tuesday and Wednesday and has now burned over 4,000 acres. This forced some 20,000 people to evacuate the Malibu area, including notable celebrities like Cher and Dick Van Dyke.
Luckily, the Santa Ana winds are subsiding with rain and cooler air over the ocean blowing back into coastal California. According to the County of Los Angeles Fire Department, the Franklin Fire is up to 20% contained as of Thursday afternoon.
It could still be a tricky winter ahead for southern California as drier-than-average conditions are expected in the coming months. Warmer than average temperatures are also forecast through the beginning of next year.
