Is California’s Fire Season Over?

You probably know that California’s recent torrential storms were not enough to end the drought. The state has been so parched for so long that the rains, while welcome, did not provide much more than a few drops in the metaphorical bucket. But the downpour did help quash two of the year’s worst fires and nourish lands that had been tinder-dry for months. So, you might be wondering, did the showers at least save us from a severe fall fire season? Before we dive in, here’s what our state has already endured this year: Nearly 2.5 million acres have burned in California through early November, nearly double the amount scorched on average over the past five years, according to CalFire, the state’s fire agency. This year’s fire season started early, after a dry winter and amid unseasonably warm temperatures. Similar conditions made 2020 the worst fire year on record. The biggest blaze in 2021, the Dixie fire, broke out in July and burned for more than three months, wiping out a town and growing to become the second-largest wildfire in California history. What’s next for fire season depends on what part of the state you’re in. Though California fires typically peak in the summer, major blazes have erupted in December and January in recent years. Many experts say that last month’s rains probably mean no more major fires in Northern California for the rest of the year (though, of course, there are no guarantees). In Southern California, the situation looks less rosy. The recent rainstorms lost steam by the time they moved south, so places like San Diego and Los Angeles didn’t get quite the same kind of downpours as those that fell on Northern California. Plus, a La Niña weather pattern is expected this winter, which typically means below-average rainfall for Southern California. In short: The region is dry and will probably stay that way, so fires could very well happen.