Storms help to dampen California wildfires by Steph Ball
Violent thunderstorms hit eastern parts of California over the weekend. These triggered flash floods, but somewhat helped to dampen wildfires which have been ravaging the state.
California has been struggling to tame hundreds of wildfires since they were first ignited by a fierce lightning storm over three weeks ago.
At the height of the fires as many as 1, 783 were said to be burning. Officials say this year has seen the highest number of wildfires burning at any one time, since California’s records began. More than 20, 000 fire-fighters have been called in from over 40 states, with more expected to join them from around the world.
The arrival of the storms over the weekend helped a little to douse the flames and dampen the ground; however they have also complicated the wildfire disaster. Flash floods sent mud cascading down an area near the town of Independence, on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, which was left devastated by last years wildfires,
The storms were caused by rising moisture moving west from New Mexico and Arizona. There remains just an isolated risk of storms across eastern California today. High pressure is expected to build this week bringing fine weather and higher temperatures which may with time increase the wildfire threat again.
