Previous record precipitation in Los Angeles gave way to more brush and wildfires, meteorologist says

SkySat image of area impacted by Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, California on January 8. 

Planet Labs PBC

A big factor contributing to the current wildfires is the onset of prolonged dry conditions, which came after Los Angeles recorded the highest rainfall in a two-year time span in 2024.

Speaking to CNN, Ariel Cohen, the meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service in Los Angeles, said, “brush grew from all that precipitation.”

He explained that once the rain stopped and dry conditions emerged, there was more vegetation for fires to sear through, therefore making the region more susceptible to widespread fires.