As wildfires incited by high winds and record dry conditions ravage Los Angeles County, the National Weather Service is warning of continued high-risk weather to come both this week and next.
The big picture: Winds will once again pick up Thursday evening into Friday morning across the Los Angeles region, with damaging gusts in the foothills and the potential for additional fire spread, NWS forecasters said Thursday afternoon.
The latest: At least five deaths have been confirmed so far, though the total death toll remains unclear. Thousands of people have been displaced and nearly 180,000 residents are under evacuation orders.
Constellation Energy confirmed a deal Friday to acquire power producer Calpine, a Houston operator of gas-fired power plants. The deal was announced with a value of $26.6 billion.
Why it matters This would force a major messaging shift for Constellation, a nuclear power giant that touts how most of its energy is "emissions free."
Americans who live in states dealing with fires, high winds and flooding could see insurance rates increase — or lose coverage entirely — as disasters intensify.
Why it matters: The affected areas span from coast to coast and include tens of millions of people living in two of the most populous states — California and Florida.
A few months later and weaker than expected, the tropical Pacific Ocean has officially tipped into La Niña conditions, which can influence weather patterns globally, NOAA declared Thursday.
Why it matters: La Niña winters are often drier than average across the southern tier of the U.S., with more rain and snow favored in the Pacific Northwest, among other knock-on effects.
A separate Los Angeles wildfire that ignited in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night was still threatening homes and iconic L.A. landmarks early Thursday morning.
Beyond the immediate danger posed by wildfires spreading through Los Angeles County is the smoke that poses a worrisome threat to the health of millions in the area.
Why it matters: Wildfire smoke can exacerbate conditions like asthma and COPD and has been associated with higher risk of cardiac arrest and stroke. Particulates can trigger inflammation even in healthy individuals.
As winter storms bring snow and ice to wide swaths of the U.S. this week, it's worth a look back to see when your area set its all-time snowfall record.
How it works: NOAA captures reported snowfall maximums from each county, along with the exact measurement location.
Why it matters: Trump — always in campaign mode — and some of his GOP allies are seizing on the wildfires to try to score political points against a Democratic governor who's widely seen as a potential 2028 contender for the White House.
The devastating wildfires raging through Los Angeles are re-opening the debate about how to model and manage risk for the insurance industry, as climate change makes such destruction more inevitable.
Why it matters: California's insurance market is in the middle of major reforms to deal with the cost of fire, but they may not be fast enough given the billions of dollars at stake.
The big picture: Five fatalities have been reported in the Eaton Fire, north of Pasedena, along with "a number of injuries, and over 1,000 structures damaged or destroyed," said Los Angeles County fire chief, Anthony Marrone, at a Wednesday evening briefing.
Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) is fresh off his victory over one of the last red-state Democrats and has his next target: fixing how the federal government fights wildfires.
Why it matters: Sheehy, who has worked fighting wildfires, told Axios that he is focused on passing reforms to the system as his first move in the Senate — as fires ravage Los Angeles County.
