California Wildfires and Record Storms Highlights Impact of Climate Change
As wildfires devastate California and states face severe winter storms, the impacts of climate change are increasingly evident displacing millions and costing billions in damages.
Words by Damian Nicholas
PALISADES. RINGO CHIU / REUTERS
Editor’s Note: On behalf of Frasspot, our heart goes out to all the firefighters and individuals who have been affected by this disaster throughout Southern California. We’ve included a fund supporting the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires, sending emergency relief grants of $1,000 each to individuals who have lost homes. If you want to help or learn more, check the link below the story.
The Palisades fire highlights a troubling rise in the frequency and intensity of disasters. Experts warn that these extreme weather patterns will persist as global temperatures continue to rise.
Uncontrolled wildfires are raging across California, particularly in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, over 20 states from Texas to Maine are grappling with their second wintry storms — a stark contrast of extreme weather patterns linked to disruptions in the polar vortex.
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Experts highlight climate change as the primary driver behind these increasingly severe phenomena. Notably, the majority of California’s most catastrophic wildfires have occurred within the past decade, marking a disturbing trend of longer, more destructive, and deadlier fire seasons. The ongoing Palisades fire is being hailed as one of the most devastating in the history of Los Angeles, with initial damage estimates from AccuWeather reaching approximately $57 billion.
Recent estimates suggest that 26.4 million individuals were displaced by weather-related disasters in 2023 alone. Alongside this, the financial repercussions of significant climate-related events in 2024 have also soared into the tens of billions, with projections indicating these figures will continue to rise in the years ahead.
MALIBU. MARIO ANZUONI / REUTERS
The United States experienced a record number of flood emergencies in 2024, alongside nearly 40,000 fire incidents and widespread drought conditions. Research indicates that in California, the days deemed at risk for “extreme autumn wildfires” have more than doubled since the early 1980s.
One particularly severe weather event, Hurricane Milton, produced one of Florida's most devastating tornado outbreaks in October, with economic damages estimated between $160 billion and $180 billion. Research attributes the hurricane’s rainfall to being up to 30% stronger than normal due to climate change, a factor significantly exacerbated by record-high water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico.
HELP SUPPORT THE LOS ANGELES WILDFIRE
Jan 14, 2025 – Updated January 15, 2024
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