Strong winds may raise the California wildfire risks, causing concern amidst a relatively tame fire season for the state.

Hurricane Dorian recently battered the east coast with strong winds and devastation. This theme may continue on America’s west coast as a forecast of high winds raises concerns about wildfires. During the week of Sept. 8, Southern California was reportedly buffeted with sustained winds between 20 and 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph.

“We have a strong high pressure off the coast,’’ AccuWeather meteorologist Jake Sojda told USA Today, “and just the way that’s oriented, we’re going to get strong Sundowner winds through some of the north-south-oriented valleys in Santa Barbara, Ventura counties and even really through all the mountains there along the coast, even down to San Diego.’’

Ventura County has recently been touched by California wildfire disasters in the past few years with the Woolsey and Thomas fires. The 2018 Woolsey fire burned almost 97,000 acres in the county, killing three people and destroying over 1,500 structures. The Thomas fire, which burned from December 2017 to January 2018, burned around 281,000 acres – making it the largest wildfire in California’s modern history (a title that was later surpassed during 2018’s horrific wildfire season). The Thomas fire also burned a large portion of Santa Barbara County, another area expected to experience high wind speeds.

Although people may assume that wildfire season would align with the hotter, summer months, the outlook period is usually later in the year for states like California. Fall months may not be as hot as the summer months, but they are much drier which plays a larger role in the development of California wildfires.

So far, California wildfires have been much more manageable and subdued than the horrific blazes seen last year. However, there is still time for the risk to increase and authorities are still recommending that Californians be mindful of wildfire risks such as campfires and cigarettes.

For 2019, the National Interagency Fire Center estimates that California wildfire risk will peak in the months of September and October before tapering into lower but still significant projected fire potential in November and December.

“It’s pretty early to make a judgment on what the fire season is going to hold, especially since just exactly where the fires develop and where they move has a huge impact on how the season is perceived,’’ Sojda noted. “You can have huge fires up in the Sierra that don’t really impact anybody and nobody notices very much. Whereas, if it’s a smaller fire but it’s in populated areas, that’s a disaster.’’

Before a deadly wildfire, like whose seen last year, starts, conditions have to be ripe for burning, according to a report on wildfires National Geographic. Dry weather and droughts can cause vegetation to turn very dry – and very flammable. In these situations, it is more likely that a lightning strike, downed power line, or human carelessness will lead to a wildfire.

According to experts, the conditions after a blaze is sparked can also determine its severity. High winds, like those seen recently in California, dry vegetation before a fire and can also aid the spread of a burning wildfire. Wind fuels the fire with oxygen, speeds its movement, and can make its spread pattern unpredictable.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.