As fires continue to burn and wind advisories continue to surge across Southern California, the eastern two-thirds of the country are experiencing an extreme arctic chill. These extreme weather conditions are not the only major natural disasters in the recent months.
This past fall, Florida was hit with 2 major hurricanes just 2 weeks apart. With over 250 total casualties reported across all six states impacted by the hurricanes.
These kinds of natural disasters seem to be happening more and more frequently. So what’s going on with the weather? Why are we constantly breaking records?
California’s Wildfire Problem
On the morning of January 7th, only a week into the new year, Southern California was hit with a disastrous wildfire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. As the week went on, the situation only got worse with 4 more 1,000+ acre fires breaking out since then, along with many more small fires. And while California is known for its wildfires, having such disastrous wildfires this early in the year is far from normal.
Southern California’s wildfire season typically runs from June to October and from June to November in Northern California. So to see so many fires this early in the year is highly unusual and a definite cause for concern.
The USDA states that since the 1970’s wildfire season has increased from 5 months to 7 months, and the average burn time for fires has gone up from 6 days to 52 days. But how did we come to this point? Why is it that every year there only seem to be more wildfires? The answer is climate change, and it’s unfortunately nothing new.
Climate change is an ongoing problem that has been a topic of international concern since the late 1980s. But how does climate change relate to California’s wildfire season? Well, wildfires are caused by dry vegetation, wind, and hot conditions. 2024 was documented as the hottest year on record.
Peter Gleick, a climate scientist, has stated, “The last 10 years have been the hottest 10 years on record…Los Angeles has gone almost 10 months without any rain.” This warm climate and dry vegetation make perfect kindling for a disastrous wildfire season.
In the past, controlled burns have helped to make wildfires less catastrophic by getting rid of old vegetation and promoting new healthy growth. But no amount of controlled burns will reverse the damage done or completely get rid of the dangers of a growing fire season. We simply can’t keep up with the rate at which the climate is changing.
Arctic Chill Across the U.S.
Fires aren’t the only disasters fueled by climate change. All across the U.S., we are seeing the undeniable effects of a changing climate. While the West Coast is in flames, the Eastern and Southern halves of the country are experiencing the polar opposite.
States that have not seen blizzards in generations are now buried under a thick blanket of snow. Over 30 states are being faced with below-average and below-freezing temperatures.
Fox Weather says on their website that, “More than 100 million Americans will experience below-average temperatures.” Some are experiencing temperatures as low as 45 degrees below the average temperature for this time of year.
Several states are receiving record breaking levels of snowfall. Louisiana had to issue its first-ever blizzard warning, and the city of New Orleans received 8 inches of snow, which broke its previous record of 2.7 inches from 1963.
This winter storm is a result of a polar vortex passing through from the Arctic and Canada. Extremely cold air is traveling from the North Pole down to the United States as a result of a South moving jet stream. This is a result of warming temperatures that is disproportionately affecting the Arctic Circle.
According to a study conducted by scientists at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, the Arctic is warming at a rate 4 times faster than the rest of the world which means that the movement of Arctic air away from the Arctic is going to happen more and more frequently as climate change continues and global temperatures continue to rise.
So What’s The Big Deal?
The issue with climate change isn’t just the destruction it brings but also the misinformation being spread about it, especially from politicians. With such clear evidence of the changing climate, it’s hard to see how so many people are still so skeptical about the validity of climate change.
According to a recent study conducted by the University of Michigan, nearly 15% of Americans believe climate change is a hoax. The study also found that this denialism is most common in Republican voters, which is no surprise with many Republican politicians publicly deny climate change and believe fossil fuels as the cornerstone of the economy.
The most recent example is President Trump’s recent decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement on his first day back in the Oval Office. President Trump has for years denied the legitimacy of the climate crisis and has spread his rhetoric to his loyal followers.
But while the new administration works to push back progress, it is important that as a society we continue to demand change. Allowing climate change to continue without making any effort to slow, stop, or reverse it is not only irresponsible but dangerous.
It’s important that we educate ourselves on relevant issues. As high school students, it might seem like we don’t have much power for change, but in just a few years we’ll all be able to vote for politicians and policies that have our future and safety in mind.
In the meantime there are still so many things we can do to influence change, you can: sign petitions, go to protests, join grassroots movements, do research, educate the people around you and amplify the message across social media. Groups like Earthjustice, Greenpeace, Climate Action Network, The Climate Justice Alliance, and so many more climate action groups exist for you to join and call for action from people in power. Every little bit counts, and every one of us has an important part to play in the fight against climate change.
Written by Logan Gonzalez, Staff Writer