A surge of Arctic air is set to spread across much of the U.S. this weekend, bringing dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills as low as -34 °C (-30 °F) in some areas. Snow squalls will likely cause hazardous travel conditions over the Rockies and High Plains beginning on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
Hurricane-force winds with speeds reaching 208 km/h (129 mph) battered southcentral Alaska, on Tuesday, January 12, 2025, causing extensive damage to infrastructure, power outages affecting thousands of homes, and disruptions across the region.
Heavy lake-snow effect snow has created near-whiteout conditions across Buffalo, New York, on January 13 and 14, 2025. Dangerous travel conditions, strong winds, and snow-packed roads have severely impacted traffic along Interstate 90 with plows struggling to keep up with the intense snowfall rates.
Extremely critical fire weather conditions persist in southern California due to strong Santa Ana winds, posing a significant threat of rapid fire growth through Wednesday. Red Flag Warnings remain in effect for Ventura and Los Angeles counties, with localized gusts reaching 115 km/h (70 mph).
Two massive wildfires in Los Angeles County have scorched more than 14 973 ha (37 000 acres), leaving at least 24 people dead, destroying over 12 000 structures, and threatening tens of thousands more, as of late Sunday, January 12, 2025.
The Palisades Fire, now the largest of six active wildfires in Los Angeles County, has scorched over 15 400 ha (38 000 acres), destroyed 5 300 structures, and forced new evacuations as containment remains at 11%. To improve public awareness and operational transparency, CAL FIRE LNU has introduced real-time 3D aircraft tracking on its incident map.
A major winter storm swept through the Southern United States from Thursday, January 9, 2025, to Saturday, January 11, bringing heavy snows of up to 28 cm (11 inches) to some regions, causing over 1 000 flight cancellations and multiple crashes across the South.
The Palisades Fire, now the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles County’s history, has burned through over 8 094 ha (20 000 acres), destroyed more than 5 300 structures, and left Pacific Palisades in ruins since it ignited on January 7, 2024. With only 6% containment, the fire has ravaged entire neighborhoods, including some of the nation’s most affluent areas.
The Palisades Fire broke out on Tuesday morning, January 7, 2025, and has burnt through 6 975 ha (17 234 acres) in Los Angeles County by Thursday, destroying and damaging over 1 000 structures by some reports. The blaze forced tens of thousands to evacuate, terrifying the residents who were forced to flee with just essentials.
The Eaton Fire has claimed the lives of at least five civilians and injured four firefighters as it continues to scorch 10 600 ha (26 230 acres) of land, leaving destruction and uncertainty in its path. Nearly 40 000 structures are under threat, with over 1 000 already destroyed the blaze continues expand with the dry and windy conditions continue to affect the region.
