This week, the Los Angeles area has been battered by at least five separate wildfires. Tens of thousands of acres have burned, and thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes. Fire experts had warned on January 2 that conditions were ideal for wildfires in parts of Southern California. One factor that has helped these fires spread rapidly? Unusually strong Santa Ana winds.
On the other side of the country, Winter Storm Blair has caused freezing temperatures and up to a foot of snow across the Midwest and up into the East Coast, putting more than 60 million people under weather alerts.
Joining Ira Flatow to discuss these and other top stories of the week is Umair Irfan, science correspondent at Vox, based in Washington, D.C.
Further Reading
- Learn more about our age of extreme wildfires in “Inside the Megafire” via NOVA.
- Watch a brief explainer of the science behind the Santa Ana winds via The Weather Channel.
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Segment Guests
Umair Irfan
Umair Irfan is a senior correspondent at Vox, based in Washington, D.C.
Segment Transcript
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About Kathleen Davis
Kathleen Davis is a producer and fill-in host at Science Friday, which means she spends her weeks researching, writing, editing, and sometimes talking into a microphone. She’s always eager to talk about freshwater lakes and Coney Island diners.
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Ira Flatow is the founder and host of Science Friday. His green thumb has revived many an office plant at death’s door.