Over the last few weeks, multiple regions across the country have been affected by ongoing wildfires and extreme winter weather, causing significant impacts to communities from the West Coast to the Southern United States (US). According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), as of Monday, January 13, three active fires are impacting the greater Los Angeles area in Southern California. The Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, and Hurst Fire have collectively burned nearly 40,000 acres across Los Angeles County since Tuesday, January 7. In its latest press briefing on January 13, local officials indicated that the fires have resulted in at least 24 fatalities. As officials continue search and rescue efforts, these numbers are subject to change. Additionally, more than 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed, according to preliminary data from field damage inspections. As of January 12, more than 15,000 emergency response personnel have mobilized to suppress the fires.
Heads up! Strong, locally damaging, NE/E winds will affect West LA Co. & much of Ventura Co thru Wednesday. Critical fire weather is expected, so PLEASE have multiple ways of getting notifications in case of new fires & prepare ahead of time. #venturacounty #LA #Cawx #Socal pic.twitter.com/BuvqcwnktS
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 12, 2025
National Weather Service (NWS) Los Angeles: X
Additionally, since January 3, communities across twenty states have been impacted by a series of intense winter storms producing multiple feet of snowfall. The storms have caused widespread impacts and disruptions, including at least five fatalities, over 700 vehicle collisions, and 3,000 flight delays and cancellations. Additionally, the storms left nearly 230,000 people without power on Monday, January 6.
Wildfires in Southern California
As of Saturday, January 11, two of the five fires that began impacting the greater Los Angeles area on January 7 were contained. The Sunset Fire, located near West Hollywood, burned 43 acres before its containment on the evening of Thursday, January 9. The Lidia Fire was contained on January 11 after burning 395 acres north of Los Angeles near the community of Ravenna. Firefighters and emergency responders continue efforts to contain the three remaining active fires around Los Angeles. The Palisades Fire remains the largest of the three fires and is 11 percent contained as of the morning of January 13. Additionally, the Eaton Fire and the Hurst Fire sit at 33 and 95 percent containment, respectively.
With a surge of Santa Ana winds expected to arrive this week, reinforcement firefighters from various states, as well as Mexico and Canada, are arriving in California to assist with containment efforts and relieve local firefighters. According to the Los Angeles County Fire Chief, an additional 70 water trucks have also arrived to assist the response crews working to clear firebreaks and mitigate further fire expansion. CAL FIRE’s aviation program has activated over 60 fixed and rotary wing aircraft to aid the suppression efforts alongside firefighters. The helicopters and Super Scooper turboprop planes are utilized to drop water onto flames and saturate areas to prevent the fires from spreading.
JUST NOW: @CAGovernor Newsom met with @TheCalGuard as he announces the deployment of an additional 1,000 members.
https://t.co/0ClkVfGN2R#PalisadesFire #EatonFire #HurstFire #LidiaFire #SunsetFire #KennethFire pic.twitter.com/lRMh7A6MQG
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) January 12, 2025
Governor Newsom Press Office: X
As of January 13, the NWS has issued Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warnings for three areas across Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. According to NWS, gusts of 45 to 70 miles per hour (mph) and eight to 15 percent relative humidity rates are expected during the peak hours Tuesday morning, January 14, through midday Wednesday, January 15. Red Flag Warnings alert to highly unfavorable conditions for prescribed burns and may lead to dangerous wildfire growth.
Winter Storms Across the Country
Since January 3, a series of powerful winter storms have impacted tens of millions of people across the Pacific Northwest to the Southeast United States (US). In the Northwest, the first round of winter storms produced 20 inches of snow in the Wasatch Front in Utah before strengthening across the Plaines from January 4 to January 5. The storm reached blizzard criteria in portions of Kansas and Missouri, creating dangerous driving conditions and prompting a temporary shutdown of the Kansas City International Airport. Snowfall in Kansas City totaled a record 11 inches, the highest accumulation total since February 1993, while several other locations in Kansas topped 18 inches.
The storm’s impact extended into southern states, with portions of Oklahoma and northern Texas receiving up to seven inches of snow. According to officials, more than a year’s worth of snowfall accumulated in Memphis, Tennessee, and parts of Arkansas. By Monday, January 6, the system reached the Mid-Atlantic region, delivering freezing temperatures and over five inches of snow in Washington, D.C., forcing some federal offices to close. As the storm moved across the US, 60 million people across 30 states were under weather alerts, bracing for heavy snow and low temperatures. As of January 7, at least seven fatalities have been reported across multiple states due to weather-related vehicle crashes and other accidents.
This past ❄️snowfall event❄️ was pretty significant. This was the biggest snowfall for Memphis in 40 years! ☃️ #midsouthwx pic.twitter.com/aTF4SGxXW8
— NWS Memphis (@NWSMemphis) January 12, 2025
NWS Memphis: X
In anticipation of the storm system impacting their respective states, by January 5, the governors of Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia, had all declared states of emergency. Several other states followed suit later that week in advance of further impending winter weather, including North Carolina Governor Josh Stein’s declaration on January 9.
From January 8 to January 11, a second winter storm system delivered widespread snow and ice to numerous states across the Southeast. In Charlotte, North Carolina, residents observed the State’s first measurable snowfall total in more than 1,000 days. Additionally, snow accumulated to record heights in Nashville, Tennessee, breaking a 130-year-old daily snow record. On Friday, January 10, school was canceled for millions of students across the Southern and Eastern US, with some closures and delays extending into January 13. The storm also resulted in over 10,000 delayed or canceled flights and over 135,000 customers in the South without power on January 10. Due to the frigid temperatures, 12 million people from the Southwest to the Southeast US were placed under freeze alerts on January 11.
Know Your Risks and Be Prepared
In the event of a wildfire emergency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges individuals and communities to take preventive measures to protect their property and loved ones. According to AirNow, the biggest health risk of wildfire smoke is from fine particles. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause health problems such as burning eyes, a runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis. Fine particles can also aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests the following measures to help protect against wildfire smoke:
- Check your community’s outdoor air quality using the AQI at airnow.gov or on your phone’s weather app;
- Stay inside if authorities advise you to do so;
- Keep smoke outside by designating a room you can close off from outside air, setting up a portable air cleaner or a filter, and avoiding burning anything indoors as much as possible;
- If you must go outside, wear a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approved respirator to reduce your smoke exposure; and
- Monitor health symptoms, especially if you have asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), heart disease, diabetes, or are pregnant. Seek medical help if needed.
Additionally, according to FEMA, winter storms can last from several hours to up to several days, disrupting access to heat, power, and communications. Winter storms pose additional risks for vulnerable populations such as older adults, children, and those who are ill and can “create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion.” In order to stay safe, it is important to pay close attention to local weather reports, the Emergency Alert System (EAS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio for the latest warnings, watches, and advisories, and to seek shelter immediately when instructed to do so. For more winter weather safety information, visit Ready.gov.