500 Homes Evacuated in California amid Raging Wildfire

EXTREME CLIMATE HAZARDS
DROUGHT
WILDFIRE
MASS EVACUATIONS
SCENARIO 101
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Raging Wildfire Forces Mass Evacuation in Southern California

The so-called Shirley Fire has grown to more than 2,000 acres with about 10 percent containment, as of posting.

Assisted by prolonged drought and dry fuel conditions, the Shirley Fire wildfire is burning actively in Rattlesnake Creek drainage about a mile from Wofford Heights, West of Lake Isabella. The fire is being fanned by a westerly wind and influenced by topography. Fuels burning range from conifers in the higher elevations, to grass in the lower areas, according to Inciweb.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office has initiated evacuations in the following areas: Pala Ranches, Juniper Highlands, Old State Road, all residences between Old State Rd and Evans Rd on Hwy 155. An evacuation advisory was also issued for Alta Sierra 500 residences fall within the evacuation area.

The fire is expected to north and east, said fire authorities.

U.S. Recent Wildfires

• Emergency Conflagration Act Invoked in Oregon amid Wildfires June 10, 2014
• Wildfire in Southern Colorado Prompts Mass Evacuations June 2, 2014
• California Wildfire Threatens 100 Homes May 28, 2014
• Major AZ Wildfire Threatens Hundreds of Homes May 23, 2014
• Wildfire Destroys Dozens of Homes in Carlsbad, Calif. May 15, 2014
• 20,000+ Homes Evacuated as San Diego Wildfire Spreads May 14, 2014
• TX Wildfire Destroys 100 Homes, Threatens 1,000+ Others May 12, 2014
• Deadly OK Wildfire Destroys Homes Forces Mass Evacuation May 6, 2014

High Fire Danger in Southern California amid Driest Conditions on Record

CLIMATE-RELATED DISASTERS
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L.A. Basin blanketed by smoke as Colby fire burns 1,700 acres, destroying homes and forcing mass evacuations

Red Flag Warning is in effect for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties due to gusty Santa Ana winds and very low humidities, said NWS.

A fast-moving wildfire that started in the hills above Glendora has consumed more than 1,700 acres, destroying  homes, forcing thousands to evacuate, and enveloping much of the Los Angeles Basin in a thick pall of smoke.

The blazed has destroyed at least five homes and damaged 2 dozen outbuildings and other structures, said fire officials. About 600 fire crews have been deployed.

The event is significant because it may herald an unprecedented winter fire season amid the driest conditions ever recorded in the region.

US Drought Monitor Map for January 14, 2014. Released by http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ on January 16, 2014.

Red Flag Warning

High pressure over the Great Basin will continue to generate gusty Santa Ana winds over Los Angeles and Ventura counties. These winds should strengthen some this evening then remain gusty into Friday, before weakening Friday afternoon into Saturday. The strongest winds will occur in the afternoon through evening hours. Peak gusts to around 50 mph are expected in the mountains, with gusts peaking to around 40 mph range in the valleys.  –NWS

The relative humidities would stay between 6 – 8 percent with temperatures forecast to reach 90s.

California Fire Weather Map

Source: NWS, via CalFire.

SoCal Sets New Record Temperatures on Xmass

Mercury (!) rises above 86 degrees at Oceanside, CA

Warm, dry Santa Ana winds drove temperatures to record or near-record highs in southern California on Wednesday.

National High and Low Temperature (for the contiguous United States)

• High Temperature for Wednesday: 86ºF (30ºC) at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA

• Low Temperature for Wednesday: -22ºF (-30ºC) at Mount Washington, NH

Source: NWS Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD – Issued 7 pm EST Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Long Beach reported highs of above 83 degrees, 2 degrees above the 1972 daily record for Xmas, according to NWS.

As of December 24, 2013 California had broken or tied a total of 43  daily high temperatures for the month.

Santa Ana Winds

The arrival of Santa Ana winds coupled with very low relative humidity prompted the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue Red Flag Warnings for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds will continue across the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties and associated coast and valley areas through Thursday afternoon. The offshore winds will strengthen into Thursday morning with gusts up to 40 – 45 mph.

Poor relative humidity recoveries are expected tonight with many locations remaining below 25 percent. On Thursday, conditions will continue to dry with areas of single digit relative humidities likely along with well above normal temperatures for most areas. Very dry conditions are likely to persist into Friday, but with much lighter winds.

A red flag warning remains in effect for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Thursday due to the combination of moderate offshore winds, low humidities, warm temperatures, and abnormally dry fuels. —NWS

Schwarzenegger Proclaims Water Emergency in Nine Counties

A Shrinking World Series

Could California Turn to Desert by 2011?

Water, water, my bloody kingdom for a drop of water. ~ King Conan

Water Emergency in Calif

As most of the croplands in the Central U.S. is submerged under floodwater, the heart of California’s farming area is feeling the heat. Gov. Schwarzenegger who proclaimed last week a drought in California, declared yesterday a state of emergency in nine counties in Central Valley.

“Just last week, I said we would announce regional emergencies wherever the state’s drought situation warrants them, and in the Central Valley an emergency proclamation is necessary to protect our economy and way of life,” Mr Schwarzenegger said.

“Central Valley agriculture is a $20 billion a year industry. If we don’t get them water immediately the results will be devastating,” he added. “Food prices, which are already stretching many family budgets, will continue to climb and workers will lose their jobs—everyone’s livelihood will be impacted in some way.”

“His declaration covers Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern counties and directs California’s Department of Water Resources to work with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to deliver more water through the State Water Project to where it is most needed.” Reuters reported.

Conservation Action:

• Water rationing is imposed in Long Beach, Roseville and the East Bay Municipal Utility District, which serves 1.3 million people in the San Francisco Bay area.

• Water agencies serving about 18 million people throughout Calif have declared a water supply alerts.

• Officials are planning for reduced water use through this year because lower water supplies are anticipated next year.

• Schwarzenegger is asking lawmakers to back a “comprehensive solution” to expanding water and says he needs $11.9 billion bond to finance water projects. (Source)

Coyote Dry Lake, Mojave Desert. Image: Jeff T. Alu via Wikimedia. This file is licensed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation license, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.

Coyote Dry Lake is a dry lake bed in the Mojave Desert located about 24 km northeast of Barstow, and north of Interstate 15 in southern California. The lake measures about 10 km long and about 6 km wide at its widest section.

California’s Last Chance: Do a U-Turn, or Turn to Desert!

Related news:

• Water squabbles irrigate tensions in Central Asia Reuters
• In Spain, Water Is a New Battleground The New York Times
• Water Shortage and ‘Africanization’ of Spain [Note: ‘Africanization’ is a weasel word for desertification]

Related Links:

• Drought Index

• Failing Ecosystems
• State of the World
• Future Scenarios
• First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
  
• Nuking Earth for Lifestyle

• Giga Trends
• World Problems: The Root Cause Matrix
• Tipping Point
• Topsoil
• Drying Aquifers, Sinking Cities

• The Economy
• Energy
• Food Security
• Future in the Making: A Shrinking World

• Could California turn to desert by 2011?

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