Climate Impact Report – 1/15

Key Facts Of The Day 1/15

Storms And Flooding

• Polar air masses from Siberia are forecast to arrive in the northern Rockies on Saturday, before rapidly moving south and east and encompassing much of the United States by Monday.
  • On Monday, heavy lake-effect snow could develop near the Great Lakes, lingering for a few days.
• Next Monday through Wednesday, another snowstorm may form in Colorado, New Mexico, and the southern Plains. 
• More than 105 million people in the United States could experience subzero temperatures in the next two weeks — covering around 40 states.

Wildfires

• In California, 4 fires have burned 38,690 acres as of Wednesday. 
  • As of Wednesday, the Palisades Fire has burned 23,713 acres and is 19% contained.
    • The Palisades fire is the second most destructive wildfire to hit Southern California.
    • The Palisades fire is expected to be the costliest wildfire in U.S. history.
  • As of Wednesday, the Eaton Fire has burned 14,117 acres and is 35% contained. 
    • The Eaton fire is the most destructive wildfire in Southern California history.
  • As of Wednesday, the Hurst Fire has burned 799 acres and is 97% contained.
  • As of Wednesday, the Auto Fire has burned 61 acres and is 47% contained.
  • The California wildfires have killed at least 25 people.
  • More than 6 million people are under a critical fire threat across a large swath of Southern California, including in cities outside of Los Angeles County.
  • The Los Angeles city and county libraries provided free N95 masks. 
  • As strong Santa Ana winds sweep across Los Angeles County through Wednesday evening, the South Coast Air Quality Management District in Southern California warned dust and ash from the burning wildfires may impact air quality in the region.
  • As many as 12,000 homes, businesses, and other structures may have been destroyed in the wildfires raging in Los Angeles County.
  • Japan is to send $2 million to help victims of the latest round of California wildfires.
  • The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has announced it will open two disaster recovery centers in Los Angeles.
  • More than 1,000 prisoners and 127 prison staff were working to contain the wildfires 

Extreme Heat

• The entire contiguous U.S. was unusually warm in 2024, 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average.
• 17 states had their record warmest year in 2024. 
• A total of 1,117 counties across the Lower 48 states and Alaska — one-third of all counties — were record-warm for the year.
• In 2024, more than 300 million people experienced a top-10 warmest year, with more than 140 million people affected by the warmest year on record.