La Nina 2020 Forms, Brings More Bad News For US Wildfires

The National Weather Service issued a red-flag fire warning as La Niña, a natural climate cycle that brings dry weather across California and Southwestern states, has officially formed.

The U.S. Climate Prediction Center said Thursday the natural phenomenon could trigger more heat and drought issues and extend the disastrous fire-weather conditions until December, Bloomberg News reported.

La Niña typically brings in rain and snow to the Northwest region in the country. However, it also causes unusually dry conditions in the Southwestern states. The Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions also experience warmer-than-average temperatures.

The rising temperatures and mega-drought across the Western U.S. are causing fires from Washington to Arizona. In California, the warmer weather caused concurrent colossal wildfires, burning across an unprecedented 3.1 million acres.

La Niña could have dire consequences for California, where 80% of the land is abnormally dry, and 31% is experiencing severe drought.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said this year’s fire season has already been record-breaking. Six of the 20 most massive fires recorded in California history occurred this year, including the August Complex, SCU Lightning Complex, LNU Lightning Complex, Elkhorn, North Complex, and Creek Fire.

The August Complex Fire is a combination of 37 fires that began after lightning stuck Mendocino National Forest on Au. 17. So far, the fire has torched more than 470,000 acres, and only 24% has been contained.

Images and reports coming out of California showed burned properties, orange skies, and smoke clouds. According to AirNow, the air quality in the state has also worsened. The fires are also causing dangerous chemicals to leach into the residents’ drinking water. The threat of more wildfires has forced insurance companies to cancel homeowner policies. The state’s main utility company preemptively shut off power to thousands of people.

Inhaling wildfire smoke can lead to severe health problems, with the worst cases being fatal. Studies have shown the rate of hospitalizations rise during wildfires. Most patients suffer from breathing problems, heart attacks, and strokes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also added new risks to the dire situation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a statement that said people infected with the virus are more at risk from wildfire smoke.

At least 12 people died in August due to the 29 wildfires burning from San Diego County to Siskiyou County. Californian authorities have also evacuated over 64,000 people.