dryness

In the lead-up to the Palisades and Eaton fires this month, the intense dryness kept vegetation tinder dry — a recipe for disaster when combined with strong Santa Ana winds and an ignition.

The severe dryness, combined with week after week of Santa Ana winds, is unusual.

They estimated that the abnormal heat accounted for approximately 25% of the dryness of vegetation, while the lack of rain accounted for the other 75%.

The dryness of these conditions usually depends on how much rainfall the state receives during previous winters, among other factors.

It’s this combination of the brittle dryness of the vegetation, dry air and strong winds that is a recipe for severe wildfire behavior.