The National Weather Service issued extreme heat warnings for parts of southern California, including Los Angeles, through Thursday, with temperatures forecast to reach the high 30s Celsius. Burbank, a suburb north of Los Angeles, recorded 39C on Saturday, approaching the October regional record of that year set in 1987. A persistent high-pressure system will remain in place this week, bringing further hazardous heat and increased fire risk.
Indonesia is experiencing an extreme wildfire season that has intensified over the past month, particularly affecting Western Kalimantan on Borneo and southern Sumatra. The lack of rainfall has dried tropical soils that are typically water-logged, allowing fires to spread rapidly both above and below the surface. Indonesia's soils are extremely rich in peat, meaning smoke from these fires contains higher concentrations of toxic gases including sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Cities across surrounding areas, and as far as Malaysia and Singapore, have experienced reduced air quality in recent weeks as a result.
According to The Guardian, drought and wildfires are more common in this region during El Niño events, when suppressed thunderstorm activity occurs.
The two heat events, though geographically separate, reflect broader patterns of extreme weather and climate conditions affecting different parts of the world simultaneously.