The National Weather Service in the United States has issued extreme heat warnings for parts of southern California, including Los Angeles, through Thursday as temperatures are expected to climb into the high 30s Celsius. On Saturday, Burbank, a suburb north of Los Angeles, recorded a temperature of 39°C, approaching the region’s October record set in 1987. The persistence of a high-pressure system over the area is forecasted to sustain hazardous heat conditions this week, raising concerns about increased fire risk.
Meanwhile, Indonesia is experiencing one of its most severe wildfire seasons in recent memory, with western Kalimantan on the island of Borneo and southern Sumatra particularly affected. The prolonged lack of rainfall has dried out the typically saturated tropical soils, facilitating the rapid spread of fires both on the surface and underground. The region’s peat-rich soils contribute to the release of highly toxic smoke containing elevated levels of gases such as sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. The resulting air pollution has degraded air quality not only in affected Indonesian cities but also in neighboring countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, over recent weeks. Experts note that drought and wildfires are more frequent in the region during El Niño events, which suppress thunderstorm activity.
El Niño is also influencing weather patterns farther east, contributing to a heightened period of tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific Ocean. After recent hurricanes in the eastern basin, Super Typhoon Choi-Wan has formed southeast of Japan, intensifying rapidly since its development on September 30. The typhoon passed through the Northern Mariana Islands as a tropical storm, causing power outages on Tinian Island and prompting the closure of schools and government offices. By Sunday night, Choi-Wan had reached sustained winds of 150 mph with gusts up to 180 mph, classifying it as a Category 4 typhoon. Forecasts indicate the storm will curve away from mainland Japan and areas previously impacted by Typhoon Dujuan in the past month, gradually weakening over the next several days.