There are four key ingredients to the disastrous wildfire seasons in the West, and climate change figures prominently. More than 400,000 acres have been burned in Northern and Central California, with many of the fires set off by nearly 11,000 lightning strikes. High temperatures and strong winds have made the situation even worse. Temperatures are about two to three degrees Fahrenheit warmer now than they would’ve been without global warming, making vegetation more likely to burn.
By Kendra Pierre-Louis and John Schwartz. New York Times. August 21, 2020.
