Australia's emergency services has warned people to stay prepared for sudden downpours and dangerous bushfires in the country's east after a flash flood swept cars into the sea. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/16/asia-pacific/australia-floods-fires-warning/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #australia #floods #wildfires
Last year was the third-hottest on record, according to an analysis of temperature data released by three independent agencies, putting 2025 just behind the second-hottest year, 2023, and the hottest, 2024. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2026/01/14/climate-change/scientists-2025-third-hottest-year/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #environment #climatechange #climatechange #environment #heatwaves #wildfires #heat
Bushfires have razed hundreds of buildings across southeast Australia, authorities said Sunday, as they confirmed the first death from the disaster. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/11/asia-pacific/homes-razed-australian-bushfires/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #australia #wildfires
ophiocephalic 🐍
and 1 other
boosted
"...In the spring, the pyrogeographer and wildfire YouTuber Zeke Lunder embarked on a bike tour with some fire friends of the foothill communities of the Santa Monica Mountains: Bel-Air, Beverly Hills and Beverly Glen. He later released an indelible five-part video series, “Danger in Plain Sight,” documenting the fire-risk conditions there, which he called “exactly the same as in the Palisades.”
“The hazards are ridiculous from a physical geography standpoint,” Lunder told me. “That intersection of canyons that funnel the wind, the intensity of the Santa Anas, the draftiness of those winds, and then this super flammable natural landscape, mingled with a superflammable urban landscape — you couldn’t really make it much worse unless you installed some giant fans.”..."
Firefighters and the Self-Defense Forces are struggling to contain a wildfire that started Thursday in Yamanashi Prefecture, with over 140 residents told to evacuate. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/09/japan/yamanashi-forest-fire/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #yamanashi #uenohara #wildfires
"....Then came the next generation of disasters: the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa, Calif., in 2017 and the Camp fire in Paradise, Calif., in 2018; the Marshall fire in Boulder County, Colo., in 2021 and the 2023 Lahaina fire in Maui, Hawaii, which killed more people than any American fire in over a century....."
"...In the spring, the pyrogeographer and wildfire YouTuber Zeke Lunder embarked on a bike tour with some fire friends of the foothill communities of the Santa Monica Mountains: Bel-Air, Beverly Hills and Beverly Glen. He later released an indelible five-part video series, “Danger in Plain Sight,” documenting the fire-risk conditions there, which he called “exactly the same as in the Palisades.”
“The hazards are ridiculous from a physical geography standpoint,” Lunder told me. “That intersection of canyons that funnel the wind, the intensity of the Santa Anas, the draftiness of those winds, and then this super flammable natural landscape, mingled with a superflammable urban landscape — you couldn’t really make it much worse unless you installed some giant fans.”..."
Opinion David Wallace-Wells
Which City Burns Next?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/opinion/los-angeles-fires-lessons.html
hypebot
boosted
The #Trump admin has abruptly begun slashing key #FEMA staff who work on #disaster response & #recovery
On New Year’s Eve, some employees received emails saying their positions “would not be renewed” & “therefore, your services will no longer be needed” after their contracts expire in the first days of January.
#law #policy #DHS #terrorism #NaturalDisasters #ClimateChange #ExtremeWeather #wildfires #flooding #hurricanes
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/01/politics/dhs-cutting-fema-disaster-response-staff?cid=ios_app
The #Trump admin has abruptly begun slashing key #FEMA staff who work on #disaster response & #recovery
On New Year’s Eve, some employees received emails saying their positions “would not be renewed” & “therefore, your services will no longer be needed” after their contracts expire in the first days of January.
#law #policy #DHS #terrorism #NaturalDisasters #ClimateChange #ExtremeWeather #wildfires #flooding #hurricanes
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/01/politics/dhs-cutting-fema-disaster-response-staff?cid=ios_app
2025 was not a good year for environmentalists or climate scientists as action against warming faced headwinds around the world. In Japan, adaptation measures offered a rare bright spot. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2025/12/28/climate-change/climate-review-2025/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #environment #climatechange #climatechange #donaldtrump #us #cop30 #wildfires #heatwaves
Taggart
boosted
City of Malibu: (Issued 12/23/25 4:09PM PT)
EVACUATION WARNINGS FOR FRANKLIN & PALISADES BURN AREAS 12/23 DUE TO HEAVY RAIN & POTENTIAL MUD/DEBRIS FLOWS
Heavy rain is forecast in Malibu Tues 12/23 through Sat night 12/27, with the heaviest rain late Tues and Wed nights. Rain totals up to 4–8 inches for coasts and valleys and 6–12 inches for mountains and foothills. Dangerous ocean conditions expected. A Flood Watch is in effect Tues–Wed.
An Evacuation Warning is issued for the Palisades and Franklin Fire burn areas beginning Tues 12/23 at 11:00 AM due to potential mud and debris flows. Residents needing additional time to evacuate should leave early. LA County Sheriff’s Deputies will conduct in-person notifications with flyers at vulnerable properties.
LA County Public Works has issued a Phase 2 debris flow forecast (moderate to heavy mud/debris flows) for the Franklin and Palisades burn areas from Tues 12/23 at 11:00 AM through Thu 12/25 at 11:00 PM.
Residents should prepare for mudslides, debris, rocks, and water on roads, especially in canyons and burn areas. Rainfall as low as 0.50 inches per hour can trigger debris flows. Expect possible power and traffic signal outages; under CA law, treat malfunctioning signals as all-way stops. Watch for crews and work vehicles.
City Public Works crews will patrol roads, clear drainage, pre-place heavy equipment and K-rails, and deploy backup generators if needed.
SANDBAGS
• LA County Fire Stations (some have sand)
• Camp 13, 1252 Encinal Cyn Rd
• Fire Station 70, 3970 Carbon Cyn Rd
• Zuma Beach Main Entrance, 3000 PCH
• Malibu Library, 23519 Civic Center Way (filled bags; vehicle loading 9 AM–4 PM)
Plastic sandbags prohibited in Malibu; burlap/jute only. Do not remove sand from beaches.
Evacuation maps: http://Protect.Genasys.com
Sandbags: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/dsg/sandbags
Alerts: https://ready.lacounty.gov/emergency-notifications/
Road conditions: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/
City of Malibu: (Issued 12/23/25 4:09PM PT)
EVACUATION WARNINGS FOR FRANKLIN & PALISADES BURN AREAS 12/23 DUE TO HEAVY RAIN & POTENTIAL MUD/DEBRIS FLOWS
Heavy rain is forecast in Malibu Tues 12/23 through Sat night 12/27, with the heaviest rain late Tues and Wed nights. Rain totals up to 4–8 inches for coasts and valleys and 6–12 inches for mountains and foothills. Dangerous ocean conditions expected. A Flood Watch is in effect Tues–Wed.
An Evacuation Warning is issued for the Palisades and Franklin Fire burn areas beginning Tues 12/23 at 11:00 AM due to potential mud and debris flows. Residents needing additional time to evacuate should leave early. LA County Sheriff’s Deputies will conduct in-person notifications with flyers at vulnerable properties.
LA County Public Works has issued a Phase 2 debris flow forecast (moderate to heavy mud/debris flows) for the Franklin and Palisades burn areas from Tues 12/23 at 11:00 AM through Thu 12/25 at 11:00 PM.
Residents should prepare for mudslides, debris, rocks, and water on roads, especially in canyons and burn areas. Rainfall as low as 0.50 inches per hour can trigger debris flows. Expect possible power and traffic signal outages; under CA law, treat malfunctioning signals as all-way stops. Watch for crews and work vehicles.
City Public Works crews will patrol roads, clear drainage, pre-place heavy equipment and K-rails, and deploy backup generators if needed.
SANDBAGS
• LA County Fire Stations (some have sand)
• Camp 13, 1252 Encinal Cyn Rd
• Fire Station 70, 3970 Carbon Cyn Rd
• Zuma Beach Main Entrance, 3000 PCH
• Malibu Library, 23519 Civic Center Way (filled bags; vehicle loading 9 AM–4 PM)
Plastic sandbags prohibited in Malibu; burlap/jute only. Do not remove sand from beaches.
Evacuation maps: http://Protect.Genasys.com
Sandbags: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/dsg/sandbags
Alerts: https://ready.lacounty.gov/emergency-notifications/
Road conditions: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/
Oooh, this is a good one!
Federal Emergency Management Agency
PrepTalks: Dr. Dennis Mileti "Modernizing Public Warning Messaging"
"Issuance Delay" is the huge problem with wildfires! (and warnings not being issued at all...)
Concern about the capacity of Europe's forests to absorb carbon dioxide emissions is a key reason European Union governments have agreed to water down their new 2040 emissions-cutting goal. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2025/11/07/climate-change/europe-sickly-forests/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #environment #climatechange #forests #wildfires #europe #climatechange
"The National Weather Service and Southern California Edison (SCE) are currently monitoring a period of Red Flag Santa Ana gusty wind conditions expected to impact Ventura County early Tuesday morning through Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning that will be in effect from 6am Tuesday through 6pm Wednesday. There will be an extended period of warm weather with dry conditions. Northeast winds are forecasted to be between 15 to 30 mph with gusts from 35 to 45 mph."
LA Times: California insurers set to charge homeowners for L.A. County fire costs
tools for commensality 🧿
boosted
Possible burn scar flooding. #CAwx #wildfires #SantaBarbaraCounty #venturacounty #rain
Possible burn scar flooding. #CAwx #wildfires #SantaBarbaraCounty #venturacounty #rain
U.S. federal authorities arrested a 29-year-old man on charges he intentionally started the blaze that days later became the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in Los Angeles. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/09/world/crime-legal/man-charged-la-fire/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #crimelegal #wildfires #california