LA Winters: A Time of Change and Uncertainty
The weather in Los Angeles seems to be losing its sense of direction. We’ve experienced chilly, rainy winters, punctuated by surprising heat waves, leaving residents wondering what to expect next. This weekend, temperatures are expected to soar to 77 degrees, a reminder of the city’s erratic climate.
Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it’s a reality we’re living with every day. While the world grapples with its effects, we’re left asking: what does this mean for us, here in LA, this winter?
A Warmer Winter Forecast
The snowy sight of 2019, a rare occurrence in LA, serves as a stark contrast to the warmer winters we’re experiencing now. Global warming, fueled by the burning of fossil fuels and rising greenhouse gas levels, is altering our weather patterns. This winter, a weak La Niña weather system is predicted to further impact these patterns across the US. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts expanding droughts in the central Rocky Mountains and the Colorado River watershed, potentially affecting Southern California as well.
Beyond Rising Temperatures: The Multi-Lateral Impacts
John Vidale, a USC professor of earth sciences, acknowledges the reality of climate change. Though an optimist by nature, he also recognizes the profound impact it’s having on our world: “The circulation areas are getting drier and wetter,” he says. “But again, I don’t know which way Los Angeles is headed. It does seem a little drier than it used to be. Climate change is affecting our motion currents a bit. It’s raising sea level just a tiny bit. It’s having much more effect, I think, in the northern latitudes, northern and southern latitudes, where the ice is all melting.”
Vidale’s observations highlight a complex interplay of factors.
Real Estate, Wildfires, and the Future of Food
Brendan Zbanek, a USC sophomore studying communications and marketing, is equally captivated by the topic of climate change. He believes its effects will reach far beyond seasonal temperatures, significantly impacting real estate.
“In California,” Zbanek says, “there are houses on the coast that are just kind of eroding as the sea levels and the ocean levels rise. So, these multi-million-dollar properties, people are just being forced to lose their homes.”
The risk of wildfires also intensifies due to rising global temperatures, a pressing concern in California and increasingly throughout the US. “And then that also, with that wildfire as well as we’ve seen in California, especially,” Zbanek continues.“So, wildfires obviously aren’t good for anyone, as they just burn homes and people are misplaced.
Zbanek also raises a critical point about the far-reaching consequences for agriculture:
“It also affects just basic weather patterns, and a lot of that can really throw off the agricultural systems. So that can lead to the farmers and the agriculture workers, not only in America, obviously, but in the entire world, into different periods of droughts, or just really anything that throws away their typical farming practices, which obviously isn’t great for grocery stores and just people’s food overall.”
A Holiday Season with Uncertainty
As we head into the holiday season, a sense of unease lingers in the air. Will crops thrive despite unpredictable weather patterns? Or will we be facing a less-than-merry holiday season marked by high prices and scarcity? Only time will tell how climate change continues to shape the Los Angeles experience in the coming months and years.
Are LA winters becoming milder overall due to climate change?
## LA Winters: A Conversation with Professor John Vidale
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re talking about the changing face of LA winters. We’ve gone from surprising snowfall to unexpected heatwaves. So, what’s going on? To help us understand, we’re joined by Professor John Vidale, a USC professor of earth sciences. Professor Vidale, thanks for being here.
**Professor Vidale:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Host:** Let’s jump right in. This weekend, it’s going to be 77 degrees. That’s hardly typical winter weather for LA.
**Professor Vidale:** You’re right, we’re definitely experiencing more erratic weather patterns. Global warming, driven by the increase in greenhouse gases, is altering our climate system in complex ways.
**Host:** And what does this mean specifically for LA winters?
**Professor Vidale:** It’s a bit of a mixed bag. While we might see milder winters it doesn’t necessarily mean fewer extreme events. We could still experience intense rainfall and even heatwaves, making it hard to predict what any given winter will bring. [[1](https://www.usgs.gov/centers/pcmsc/news/perspective-californias-coastal-challenges-amid-climate-change)]
**Host:** You mentioned global warming. Is that the primary culprit behind these changes?
**Professor Vidale:** Definitely a major factor. The rise in global temperatures is leading to changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, affecting rainfall and temperature fluctuations across the globe. We’re seeing these effects in California, along our coastline.
**Host:** So, what can Angelenos expect in the coming years? What should we be preparing for?
**Professor Vidale:** Adaptation is key. We need to be prepared for a wider range of weather events, from intense droughts to heavy rainfall. This includes things like water conservation strategies, investments in infrastructure to manage floods and droughts, and taking steps to minimize our own carbon footprint.
**Host:** Professor Vidale, thank you for shedding light on this important topic.
**Professor Vidale:** My pleasure.
**Host:** And remember, folks, even though LA winters are changing, it’s never too late to make a difference.
