Firefighters in Los Angeles hope for improved weather to help control ongoing wildfires that have devastated the area.
Los Angeles: Fire danger is still high in parts of the city, which have been burning for days. But there’s a glimmer of hope that the weather will improve this weekend, giving firefighters a break.
After some calmer weather on Tuesday, firefighters managed to get a handle on the flames. However, a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” warning was issued for Wednesday, especially in areas affected by the fires that have tragically claimed at least 25 lives and destroyed thousands of homes. The National Weather Service has also issued a red flag warning from the Central Coast down to the Mexico border.
Good news is on the horizon, as forecasts suggest that conditions for firefighting will get better later this week.
Los Angeles is facing another rare warning as winds are expected to pick up again.
So, what’s the best weather for fighting fires? Well, just like strong winds and dry conditions helped the fires spread, calmer winds, higher humidity, and cooler temperatures can really help put them out. When the air has more moisture, it makes it harder for fires to ignite because the fuels are less dry.
Forecasters keep an eye on relative humidity, which is basically how much moisture is in the air. When it drops below 15% and winds pick up, that’s when fire warnings go out. Less wind is also a big plus. Strong winds can fan the flames and dry out vegetation, making it easier for fires to spread. Even if there’s no wind, fires can still burn, but they won’t spread as quickly, which is a relief for firefighters.
Rain or snow can help, but it often evaporates quickly, so it’s not a complete solution.
As for when LA might catch a break, Wednesday’s forecast looks a bit grim with low humidity and strong Santa Ana winds. But there’s hope for later in the week.
By Friday and into the weekend, we might see higher humidity and lighter winds, although rain isn’t expected. While some rain would help, too much could lead to mudslides in the already affected areas.
Once the fires do finally calm down, it’s important to remember that climate change is making wildfires more frequent and intense. Drought-like conditions in the western U.S. are likely to create even more extreme wildfire situations in the future.
