Recently, the second driest period in history was recorded in LA. This is due to the La Niña phenomenon. La Niña is a phenomenon where sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific are lower than usual, significantly affecting global weather. In particular, Southern California is experiencing drought and high temperatures due to La Niña.

From May to December 2024, only 0.16 inches of precipitation was recorded in downtown LA, the second lowest amount since 1962. As a result, LA is facing severe drought, and several large wildfires have occurred in nearby areas, including Malibu. While La Niña brings heavy rain to the northern regions, it causes dry and hot weather in the southern regions, greatly increasing the risk of wildfires.

Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Oxnard, stated, "This is arguably one of the driest starts to the rainy season on record. Essentially, all plants are in a dry state like in October."

California's rainy season typically lasts from October to April, but the actual wettest period is between December and February. However, current forecasts suggest that there is little chance of rain in the coming weeks. This increases the risk of wildfires in Southern California and exacerbates the potential for water shortages.

Such natural phenomena may not be felt in our daily lives, but they remind us that climate change is having an increasingly significant impact. It is time to pay more attention to changes in the weather.

According to the latest map released by the U.S. Drought Monitor, most areas, including Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego counties, are experiencing moderate drought conditions. In recent weeks, Southern California has been classified as "abnormally dry," and the Central Valley region still falls into this category.

A newly released report stated, "Drought has spread across Arizona, California, and Nevada due to above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation."