Weather Phenomenon and California Fires

A lost harvest. Grapes in Sonoma, California's wine country withering on the vine after smoke from lightening-caused wildfires, a weather phenomenon, tainted and ruined the fruit.//PHOTO: ANGROVE — *A lost harvest. Grapes in Sonoma, California’s wine country withering on the vine after smoke from lightening-caused wildfires tainted and ruined the fruit.*

Dramatic Lightening Show

On August 16 the night sky across Northern California was lit by a dramatic a dry lightening storm, a weather phenomenon. “A weather event on a scale not seen in decades,” reported the New York Times.

It was an extraordinary light show with 12,000 lightening strikes. Multiple jagged forks and brilliant white bolts of light split the night sky. Around 6:00 am there were 326 lightening strikes in 30 minutes, reported ABC News.

Footage from selected webcams across the Bay Area which captured some of the lightening.

There was some thunder with this extraordinary light show, but it was a dry storm. Any raindrops evaporated before they ever reached the tinder-dry California landscape.

The devastating result of this storm was that the lightening ignited four of the five largest fires in California history. Over one million acres were burned.

Dry California native oak woodland. There has been little rain in California in 2020 and there are drought conditions. February was completely dry and temperatures were above normal. //PHOTO: ANGROVE — *Dry California native oak woodland*. There has been little rain in California in 2020 which has caused drought conditions. February was completely dry and temperatures were above normal.

Deadly Trio Weather Phenomenon

Though lightening storms are not unusual in the West, this storm was extraordinary in scope and intensity. The situation was exacerbated by the combination of parched landscape and unusual heat. The storm created a deadly trio.

All that remains of a home after the Wallbridge fire, in Sonoma, California, swept up from the valley below. The Wallbridge fire was begun by a lightening strike which was part of a weather phenomenon.//PHOTO: ANGROVE — *All that remains of a home after the Wallbridge fire swept up from the valley below. The Wallbridge fire was begun by a lightening strike.*

One Hundred Year Drought

California and much of the Western US is currently in the midst of the worst drought in 100 years, according to Advancing Earth and Space Science. Air temperatures are also rising according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.

Because of increased temperature and drought, according to CalFire the peak fire season has increased by 75 days. The fires are burning hotter and are more intense. They call the fires set by the lightening weather phenomenom a “fire seige”. There was even a fire tornado in Lassen County. They also state Climate Change is considered a key driver of this devastating trend.

CalFire bulldozed firebreaks through forests to contain fires. This firebreak was created to save a home in Sonoma. //PHOTO: ANGROVE — *CalFire bulldozed firebreaks through forests to contain fires. This firebreak was created to save a home in Sonoma.*

Is This The New Normal?

“I used to look forward to the fall,” a resident of California’s wine country told me recently. “Warm days with cooler evenings, time to gather apples and enjoy the changing colours of leaves on the grape vines. Now I am terrified. I wake up in the middle of the night wondering if I can smell smoke.”

Or Can We Reverse Course?

David Attenborough recently released his new documentary, A Life On Our Planet . The situation is dire he states, but there is still time to reverse course.

David Wells-Wallace recent book, The Uninhabitable Earth, Apocalypse Now, begins with the statement: “It is worse, much worse than we can imagine.” He also states there are ways to change our ways, but change must happen quickly. This book is on the New York Times best seller list.

Last weekend was TED Countdown Global Launch was a call to action on climate change. Speakers from around the world including Pope Francis, Al Gore and Prince William were included in the 50 speakers.

Coming Next…

In my next post I will document Innovative ways Climate Change and Global Warming can be reversed including innovative new farming methods,

It can be done. It must be done. There is some hope but we must act now.

This CAT D9L bulldozer is a workhorse for CalFire. It is used to create firebreaks, sometimes as wide as a freeway. //PHOTO; ANGROVE — *CAT D9L bulldozer on Mill Creek Road, Healdsburg. This dozer is the workhorse for CalFire. It is used to create firebreaks which are sometimes as wide as freeways.*

Mill Creek Road, Healdsburg, California was badly hit by the Wallbridge Fire. Crews and trucks from Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Culver City came to assist CalFire.
//PHOTO: ANGROVE — *Mill Creek Road, Healdsburg was badly hit by the Wallbridge Fire. Crews and trucks from Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Culver City came to assist CalFire*.

Heartfelt messages for the frontline firefighters roads near the site of the Wallbridge Fire in Sonoma. Flags were also flying after the fire. //PHOTO; ANGROVE — *Heartfelt messages for the frontline firefighters roads near the site of the Wallbridge Fire in Sonoma*. *Flags were also flying after the fire*

Heartfelt thanks to fire-fighters and everyone who helped contain and extinguish the lightening triggered Wallbridge Fire in Sonoma, California Wine Country. //PHOTO: ANGROVE — *Heartfelt thanks to fire-fighters and everyone who helped contain and extinguish the lightening triggered Wallbridge Fire in Sonoma, California Wine Country.*

Comments

BILL RELLER says

October 18, 2020 at 11:36 am

WELLDONE!

REALLY LIKED YOUR CONCLUDING COMMENT!
Angela says

October 18, 2020 at 12:08 pm

Thank you! It really is shocking how much damage has been done in just the short time since Al Gore wrote an Inconvenient Truth. what kind of world are we leaving for our grandchildren? if i can raise awareness just a little…. every bit counts…