California Wildfires and Record Storms Highlights Impact of Climate Change

Journal

Jan 14

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.

Journal | California

Words by Damian Nicholas

PALISADES. RINGO CHIU / REUTERS

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 storm in as many weeks — a stark contrast of extreme weather patterns linked to disruptions in the polar vortex.

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 $55 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.

Damian Nicholas

Editor-in-Chief, Frasspot

Damian Nicholas is editor-in-chief for Frasspot. He manage all content, production, and consumer experiences across all platforms. He has contributed as editor-in-chief since December 2019.

Jan 14, 2025

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