It must be because of the climate meeting now going on in Brazil that odd climate claims are on full display this week. From Time  magazine: The fire was caused by arson  and below is the person who is being held in prison for it. Arson has nothing to do with climate change!   This morning, a meteorologist I respect wrote about the catastrophic July 4 Texas flash floods and included this unfortunate sentence : That, of course, also assumes that we are living in a stable climate — which we are not. Below is a yearly plot of earth's ocean/land temperature (HADCrut5) which is generally accepted as a valid measure of temperature by the climate community. As "climate" is defined by the UN's IPCC as a minimum 30 year period, do you see a period where the temperatures are "stable" (flat) for 30 or more years? Of course not.  The following are facts . The worst storms in history (by intensity, not loss of life) in the contiguous United States were about 100 years ag...

In a tragedy of monumental proportions, it is now confirmed the January Los Angeles Wildfires were caused by a determined, progressive arsonist. He traveled from Florida to California to set the fires. New York Post The inset at the bottom is the image he created showing a city burning down. According to multiple media reports, he donated to President Biden. Jonathan Rinderknecht is 29-years old. He used his phone to video the fire he set.  Of course, at the time, Big Climate and its politicians were telling us that climate change caused the fires. 

Headline at PJ Media today: We know at least some Los Angeles officials have not been completely honest about the fires. For instance, they were telling us the death toll was 31 when it was actually 440 .  Now, with regard to the cause(s) of the fires: The natives are getting restless, however. Angelenos want to know what officially caused these fires, which led to homelessness and despair and contributed to a corrosive and abiding distrust of local and state government competence. If we had a National Disaster Review Board , this wouldn't be an issue. As with the NTSB and aircraft accidents, we would know the cause(s) and we would know how to prevent future fires in similar situations. We -- especially the people of Los Angeles -- would not have to tolerate the games local officials are playing.  It is vital to learn the cause of the fires as soon as possible. Congress, please hold hearings and move quickly on a National Disaster Review Board. 

Los Angeles January Wildfires from NOAA weather satellite You may have seen some of the news coverage the past few days which says ~440 people were killed by the Los Angeles Wildfires, not 31 as previously reported. As I am not a medical statistician, I don't have an opinion as to the quality of the study. However, after years of tracking the consequences of extreme weather events, including wildfires, 31 has always seemed too low to me.  This is the type of issue a National Disaster Review Board would be able to study so as to publish reliable answers. 

University of Washington's Professor of Meteorology, Dr. Cliff Mass, has laid out a forensic-type report pertaining to the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires in Southern California.  I -- strongly -- urge you to read it, especially if you believe the ridiculous media reports that climate change played a role. 

3:30pm. Three fires have broken out in the San Diego area.  -- original posting, still valid --- The areas in pink have the highest category of wildfire danger. It is vital that everyone avoids activities that can cause fires.  Above is the forecast for RAIN in Southern California starting this weekend. It is desperately needed!

While the forecast rains for this weekend (see below) will be a blessing, we have extreme fire conditions in the meantime.  Not only do we have "extremely critical" (purple) conditions today west and north of downtown Los Angeles, tomorrow they will extend to much of San Diego County.  I'm told by a friend in Orange Co. that he is worried about fire conditions there today.  Please don't drag chains, throw butts or anything else that could start a fire. 

The rain is forecast to begin Friday night and last through the weekend on an intermittent basis.

Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson  had a terrific piece yesterday about the Los Angeles wildfires. You can view it here . If you combine it with her report about FEMA , in which I participated, you'll have an idea of what a terrible mess we are in with regard to major disasters in our nation.  At the end of Sharyl's report about the LA Wildfires, we learn that California Governor Newsome is calling for a "independent investigation." But would you trust an investigation panel that he (or Mayor Bass) appoints?  There was an independent investigation after the Maui Fire  . But, it got off the topic in places. Is a state attorney general best qualified to appoint such a panel? For example, instead of exclusively focusing on the fire, the report contains  political  material: This type of political nonsense undermines the credibility of any report which is why the proposed National Disaster Review Board will be forbidden by law* to get into climate change ...

His highly informative article is here .  I provided my evidence here . Of course, the two are similar. 

Please continue to do everything possible to prevent a fire from starting.  Addition: Several fires have broken out today. The above is from a few minutes ago. 

...in Southern California. The purple area is where the high risk exists and it is in effect now until Wednesday, Whatever you do, please do not smoke outdoors, drag chains or other activity that could spark a fire. 

Unfortunately, we are back to the highest wildfire danger category (purple) today and Tuesday.  Please do not drag chains, smoke outdoors, set off fireworks or do anything that could start a fire.  I am going to add items of interest throughout the day.  7:40am: The Telegraph  and Washington Post  reiterates what was posted here the day the first fire: that fireworks may have been the cause of the Palisades Fire . They are also reporting damage of $250 billion which, if correct, would make it the most expensive natural disaster of the past few decades and, maybe, even longer. Tragically, the death toll has risen to 24.  -- more to follow --

  The usual suspects are desperately trying to find something, anything, to tie climate change to the Los Angeles fires. There is no connection.  It is easy to disprove a connection between global warming and the LA fires. In 1938, a similar fire occurred in the Palisades. This fire is not unique.  Thunderstorms sometimes cause wildfires. A big increase in dry thunderstorms would be a climate-related cause of wildfires. That hasn't happened nor were there any thunderstorms in Southern California when these particular fires ignited. The fires were caused by human actives. NOAA , earlier today, was quoted as saying the atmosphere over the Southland is "thirstier" as a result of climate change. Wrong! It is just the opposite. Rainfall -- according to NOAA -- is more plentiful in Los Angeles with earth's warmer climate. See graph below.  The trend is an additional tenth of an inch rain each decade.  Keep in mind that just four years ago, California was supposed...