Fire and Rain

This book shows how California's weather and climate have drastically changed and what we can expect in the near future. California's weather and climate are becoming as common a topic in the media as inflation and wars. It comes into our lives during heat waves when we require more cooling and during droughts when we are asked to limit our use of water. We may not be able to visit state and national parks when fires rage nearby. Indeed, California does have weather. LaDochy and Witiw dispel the erroneous myths about the state's climate in a colorful, entertaining way. California does have seasons. It does rain in Southern California. It is not always sunny and mild throughout the year. And not all El Niños bring abundant rainfall every time throughout the state. These and other myths are discussed and dismissed with the latest science and remarkable vignettes. The authors describe the diversity of the state's physical environment, both natural and man-made and how climate change is currently altering this diverse environment. Climate change, in the past, present and future, continues to influence this most populous state. Yes, California does have weather.This second edition adds new and updated content related to extreme heat risk and the increasing impacts of wildfires in California as well as updated studies and data related to the effects of climate change. The new edition also adds two new chapters on fire weather and aviation and weather in California. There is a new Appendix on the History of Wildfires in Los Angeles and we've included new material on the effects of the Pacific on sea level rise, sea surface temperatures and coastal erosion. Clouds and optical effects add color to the chapter on sunshine. The new edition shows how rapidly California's weather is changing even since the first edition.