{"id":409613,"date":"2025-10-22T13:21:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T11:21:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=409613"},"modified":"2025-10-22T13:21:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T11:21:19","slug":"rain-causes-wildfires-the-climate-change-gospel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=409613","title":{"rendered":"Rain causes wildfires \u2013 the climate change gospel\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"659\" data-attachment-id=\"409627\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=409627\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQNyTT3Nr0m6_WOQQnJbCa0GFQKWqd_ymU6L9zc5QOIcFfITLCY-Qw7DrggTbDGJpi_UysGHG8TO9DHxXf04yj69trhkOq1YkRCm6EfWIzIhLRFDu8oEcA2FmsHNBOI.jpeg?fit=1041%2C949&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1041,949\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"AQNyTT3Nr0m6_WOQQnJbCa0GFQKWqd_ymU6L9zc5QOIcFfITLCY-Qw7DrggTbDGJpi_UysGHG8TO9DHxXf04yj69trhkOq1YkRCm6EfWIzIhLRFDu8oEcA2FmsHNBOI\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQNyTT3Nr0m6_WOQQnJbCa0GFQKWqd_ymU6L9zc5QOIcFfITLCY-Qw7DrggTbDGJpi_UysGHG8TO9DHxXf04yj69trhkOq1YkRCm6EfWIzIhLRFDu8oEcA2FmsHNBOI.jpeg?fit=723%2C659&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQNyTT3Nr0m6_WOQQnJbCa0GFQKWqd_ymU6L9zc5QOIcFfITLCY-Qw7DrggTbDGJpi_UysGHG8TO9DHxXf04yj69trhkOq1YkRCm6EfWIzIhLRFDu8oEcA2FmsHNBOI.jpeg?resize=723%2C659&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A figure representing a mythical deity holds a flaming Earth while four scientists in lab coats kneel in prayer, surrounded by smoke from industrial chimneys.\" class=\"wp-image-409627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQNyTT3Nr0m6_WOQQnJbCa0GFQKWqd_ymU6L9zc5QOIcFfITLCY-Qw7DrggTbDGJpi_UysGHG8TO9DHxXf04yj69trhkOq1YkRCm6EfWIzIhLRFDu8oEcA2FmsHNBOI.jpeg?resize=1024%2C934&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQNyTT3Nr0m6_WOQQnJbCa0GFQKWqd_ymU6L9zc5QOIcFfITLCY-Qw7DrggTbDGJpi_UysGHG8TO9DHxXf04yj69trhkOq1YkRCm6EfWIzIhLRFDu8oEcA2FmsHNBOI.jpeg?resize=300%2C273&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQNyTT3Nr0m6_WOQQnJbCa0GFQKWqd_ymU6L9zc5QOIcFfITLCY-Qw7DrggTbDGJpi_UysGHG8TO9DHxXf04yj69trhkOq1YkRCm6EfWIzIhLRFDu8oEcA2FmsHNBOI.jpeg?resize=768%2C700&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQNyTT3Nr0m6_WOQQnJbCa0GFQKWqd_ymU6L9zc5QOIcFfITLCY-Qw7DrggTbDGJpi_UysGHG8TO9DHxXf04yj69trhkOq1YkRCm6EfWIzIhLRFDu8oEcA2FmsHNBOI.jpeg?w=1041&amp;ssl=1 1041w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativewoman.co.uk\/rain-causes-wildfires-the-climate-change-gospel-according-to-the-met-office\/\">The Conservative Woman<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativewoman.co.uk\/author\/paulhomewood\/\">Paul Homewood<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Met Office is determined to convince us of the immediate need to cut greenhouse gas emissions. As part of its campaign, it is now reporting that the California wildfires in January were caused by severe heatwaves, droughts and, er, heavy rain.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Yes, really.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PAUL HOMEWOOD says the Met Office is no longer a serious scientific organisation but has become a political pressure group.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">***<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.metoffice.gov.uk\/about-us\/news-and-media\/media-centre\/weather-and-climate-news\/2025\/state-of-wildfire-report-2025\">Met Office press release<\/a>, October 16, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018The latest&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5194\/essd-17-5377-2025\">State of Wildfires report<\/a>&nbsp;is building unequivocal evidence of how climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme wildfires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018Human-driven climate change made wildfires in parts of South America and Southern California many times larger and more destructive, according to an&nbsp;annual assessment by international experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018According to climate models, the Los Angeles wildfires in January were twice as likely and 25 times larger, in terms of burned area, in the current climate than they would have been in a world with no human-caused global warming. It also made last year\u2019s burning in the Pantanal-Chiquitano region in South America 35 times larger, while also driving record-breaking fires in the Amazon and Congo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018However, it is still too early to tell how much climate change contributed to the impacts of the wildfires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018The new report warns that more severe heatwaves and droughts are making extreme wildfires more frequent and intense worldwide, resulting in increasing threats to people\u2019s lives \u2013 through fire and polluting smoke \u2013 as well as property, economies and the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018Key findings from this year\u2019s report include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Warming increased burning in Pantanal, Chiquitano and Amazon, releasing billions of tonnes of CO2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Climate change increased likelihood of Southern California\u2019s deadly fires by at least 2-3 times<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Experts urge nations to significantly cut emissions at COP30 and adapt to a hotter, more fire-prone world<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018Dr Douglas Kelley of the UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology, who co-led this year\u2019s report, said: \u2018Our annual reports are building unequivocal evidence of how climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme wildfires. Without human-driven warming, many of these wildfires, in Pantanal and Southern California, for example, would not have been on an extreme scale.\u2019&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018Report co-lead Dr Matt Jones of the University of East Anglia said: \u201cWe urge world leaders at COP30 to make bold commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions rapidly this decade. This is the single most powerful contribution that most developed nations can make to avoiding the worst impacts of extreme wildfires on living and future generations\u201d.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">***<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Note the highly political call for rapid cuts in GHGs. It is not the job of the Met Office to canvass for political action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report, in any event, is full of contradictions and provides no data to back up their claims that wildfires are more frequent and intense, never mind that climate change has caused anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Astonishingly, there appear to be no charts at all which track annual global fire activity since records started. The reason is obvious \u2013 facts would destroy the Met Office\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only \u2018evidence\u2019 offered is from weather attribution computer models, which have been thoroughly debunked by serious scientists and can be programmed to come up with whatever results you want. If the changes were as drastic as the Met Office pretend, surely there would be ample data to quantify it, instead of relying on make-believe models?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the contrary, the opposite seems to be the case \u2013 the evidence we have shown there is no upward trend. Indeed, the report itself admits that last year\u2019s fire season was below average and was the 8th lowest since 2002!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"235\" data-attachment-id=\"409615\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=409615\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-452.png?fit=1044%2C339&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1044,339\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-452.png?fit=723%2C235&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-452.png?resize=723%2C235&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Global summary of the 2024-2025 fire season, indicating 3.7 million square kilometers burned, which is 9% below the average since 2002 and ranks as the 8th lowest fire season.\" class=\"wp-image-409615\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-452.png?resize=1024%2C333&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-452.png?resize=300%2C97&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-452.png?resize=768%2C249&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-452.png?w=1044&amp;ssl=1 1044w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take the US, for instance, which has been highlighted in the report for the California fires. Some years are up, others are down, but there is no underlying trend whatsoever:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"414\" data-attachment-id=\"409617\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=409617\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-453.png?fit=1044%2C598&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1044,598\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-453.png?fit=723%2C414&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-453.png?resize=723%2C414&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Bar chart depicting US wildfire acreage from 2001 to 2024, showing fluctuations in burned area in acres over the years.\" class=\"wp-image-409617\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-453.png?resize=1024%2C587&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-453.png?resize=300%2C172&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-453.png?resize=768%2C440&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-453.png?w=1044&amp;ssl=1 1044w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nifc.gov\/fire-information\/statistics\/wildfires\">https:\/\/www.nifc.gov\/fire-information\/statistics\/wildfires<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, if we go back further in time, wildfires used to be much worse. In those days, they were more or less allowed to burn themselves out, which in turn got rid of all the dead wood and undergrowth which acts as fuel to make forest fires more intense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then systematic fire suppression began, which drastically curtailed the size of fires, but also allowed the accumulation of that very same dead wood and undergrowth.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativewoman.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/hw2-2.png\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"542\" data-attachment-id=\"409618\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=409618\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-454.png?fit=1028%2C771&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1028,771\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-454.png?fit=723%2C542&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-454.png?resize=723%2C542&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A line graph depicting total acreage burned in the U.S. from 1916 to 2006, showing annual and 5-year moving average trends in millions of acres.\" class=\"wp-image-409618\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-454.png?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-454.png?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-454.png?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-454.png?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-454.png?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-454.png?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-454.png?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-454.png?w=1028&amp;ssl=1 1028w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170910052844\/https:\/\/www.fs.fed.us\/research\/sustain\/criteria-indicators\/indicators\/indicator-316.php\">https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170910052844\/https:\/\/www.fs.fed.us\/research\/sustain\/criteria-indicators\/indicators\/indicator-316.php<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laughably, the report even blames the California fires on wet weather, which the BBC also tried to do at the time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"169\" data-attachment-id=\"409620\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=409620\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-455.png?fit=1028%2C240&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1028,240\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-455.png?fit=723%2C169&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-455.png?resize=723%2C169&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Text discussing the impact of wet weather on California wildfires, highlighting the conditions for fire activity.\" class=\"wp-image-409620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-455.png?resize=1024%2C239&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-455.png?resize=300%2C70&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-455.png?resize=768%2C179&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-455.png?w=1028&amp;ssl=1 1028w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/essd.copernicus.org\/articles\/17\/5377\/2025\">https:\/\/essd.copernicus.org\/articles\/17\/5377\/2025<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Swain referred to heavy rain during the two winters prior to 2024\/25, which I have marked on the rainfall graph below for the Los Angeles Division:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"316\" data-attachment-id=\"409622\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=409622\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-456.png?fit=1044%2C456&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1044,456\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-456.png?fit=723%2C316&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-456.png?resize=723%2C316&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Line graph depicting California's precipitation levels in Climate Division 6 from 1896 to 2025, showing fluctuations in rainfall over the years.\" class=\"wp-image-409622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-456.png?resize=1024%2C447&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-456.png?resize=300%2C131&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-456.png?resize=768%2C335&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-456.png?w=1044&amp;ssl=1 1044w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncei.noaa.gov\/access\/monitoring\/climate-at-a-glance\/divisional\/time-series\/0406\/pcp\/6\/3\/1895-2025\">https:\/\/www.ncei.noaa.gov\/access\/monitoring\/climate-at-a-glance\/divisional\/time-series\/0406\/pcp\/6\/3\/1895-2025<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clearly those two years were not unusual at all. California\u2019s climate regularly swings from one extreme to the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Equally 2024\/25 was not unusually dry either, ranking only the 13th driest since 1895.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever caused the Palisades fire, it was not excessive rain or drought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then there\u2019s Europe:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"412\" data-attachment-id=\"409624\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=409624\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-457.png?fit=1044%2C594&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1044,594\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-457.png?fit=723%2C412&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-457.png?resize=723%2C412&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A bar graph illustrating wildfire area in the Mediterranean region (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Greece) from 1980 to 2024, showing variations in hectares burned over the years.\" class=\"wp-image-409624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-457.png?resize=1024%2C583&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-457.png?resize=300%2C171&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-457.png?resize=768%2C437&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-457.png?w=1044&amp;ssl=1 1044w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com\/2025\/02\/23\/eu-wildfire-trends-2024\/\">https:\/\/notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com\/2025\/02\/23\/eu-wildfire-trends-2024\/<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A declining trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, the Met Office study dishonestly cherry-picks the regions where fire activity was above normal last year, blames it on climate change, and ignores all the other places where it was below average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And then proceeds to claim: \u2018The latest State of Wildfire report is building unequivocal evidence of how climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme wildfires.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And they call it science!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativewoman.co.uk\/author\/paulhomewood\/\">Paul Homewood<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paul Homewood is a former accountant who blogs about climate change at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com\/\">Not a Lot of People Know That<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Met Office is determined to convince us of the immediate need to cut greenhouse gas emissions. As part of its campaign, it is now reporting that the California wildfires in January were caused by severe heatwaves, droughts and, er, heavy rain.<br \/>\nYes, really.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"Discover how the Met Office's claims on California wildfires are challenged by data and expert opinions in this insightful analysis.","jetpack_seo_html_title":"Examining the Met Office's Claims on Wildfires and Climate Change","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691839010,691818056,691833140,691818583,691829412,691818808],"class_list":["post-409613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-california-fires","tag-climate-change","tag-cop30","tag-europe","tag-extreme-wildfires","tag-met-office","has-post-thumbnail","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1IyF","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":408952,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=408952","url_meta":{"origin":409613,"position":0},"title":"Wildfires Below Average Last Year\u2013Met Office Says Global Warming Has Made Them\u00a0Worse!","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/18\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Met Office are no longer a serious, scientific organisation, but a political one:","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate change\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate change","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-change"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQMF2RC5Jjji6Dch8PzY9wqxn3ftNQ_aF3yvJAIvmBTDh4pwINZnWSYWX8C_NV-wmkmLV7wy9TQFYmjMP5g8qHYDqbddPY38n64DIGhAT3j8F8Yc1p1AUYClmitVw-HUn9hQhjugba7wX8OJVoy_xC9OjBKQ-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQMF2RC5Jjji6Dch8PzY9wqxn3ftNQ_aF3yvJAIvmBTDh4pwINZnWSYWX8C_NV-wmkmLV7wy9TQFYmjMP5g8qHYDqbddPY38n64DIGhAT3j8F8Yc1p1AUYClmitVw-HUn9hQhjugba7wX8OJVoy_xC9OjBKQ-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQMF2RC5Jjji6Dch8PzY9wqxn3ftNQ_aF3yvJAIvmBTDh4pwINZnWSYWX8C_NV-wmkmLV7wy9TQFYmjMP5g8qHYDqbddPY38n64DIGhAT3j8F8Yc1p1AUYClmitVw-HUn9hQhjugba7wX8OJVoy_xC9OjBKQ-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQMF2RC5Jjji6Dch8PzY9wqxn3ftNQ_aF3yvJAIvmBTDh4pwINZnWSYWX8C_NV-wmkmLV7wy9TQFYmjMP5g8qHYDqbddPY38n64DIGhAT3j8F8Yc1p1AUYClmitVw-HUn9hQhjugba7wX8OJVoy_xC9OjBKQ-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AQMF2RC5Jjji6Dch8PzY9wqxn3ftNQ_aF3yvJAIvmBTDh4pwINZnWSYWX8C_NV-wmkmLV7wy9TQFYmjMP5g8qHYDqbddPY38n64DIGhAT3j8F8Yc1p1AUYClmitVw-HUn9hQhjugba7wX8OJVoy_xC9OjBKQ-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":225057,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=225057","url_meta":{"origin":409613,"position":1},"title":"Sacramento Bee, Your Wildfire Emissions Story Misses Large Decline in Wildfires, Amid Modest Warming","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/21\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Climate change is not a significant factor.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image-1023.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image-1023.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image-1023.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image-1023.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image-1023.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":414879,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=414879","url_meta":{"origin":409613,"position":2},"title":"Adam Carolla and Joe Rogan Are Right, Government Is to Blame for the Severity of L.A.\u2019s Fires, Not Climate Change","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/27\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, comedian Adam Carolla and host, Joe Rogan, pointed out that Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) wrongly blamed climate change for wildfires in California, when, in fact, wildfires are natural and the severity of the one in Los Angeles was largely due\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"California\"","block_context":{"text":"California","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=california"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0Rogan-Carolla.png?fit=1200%2C658&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0Rogan-Carolla.png?fit=1200%2C658&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0Rogan-Carolla.png?fit=1200%2C658&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0Rogan-Carolla.png?fit=1200%2C658&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0Rogan-Carolla.png?fit=1200%2C658&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":281763,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=281763","url_meta":{"origin":409613,"position":3},"title":"Climate Models Wrong On East Pacific\u2026 \u201cWe Don\u2019t Know Why This Cooling Is Happening\u201d","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/04\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"From NoTricksZone By\u00a0P Gosselin\u00a0on\u00a03. October 2023 German online agriculture information site\u00a0agrarheute.com here\u00a0asks whether the climate models wrong since the East\u00a0 \u201cEast Pacific has been cooling down more and more over the past 30 years\u201d and this \u201ccontrary to all predictions\u201d. Modern agriculture knows that oceanic cycles have significant consequences for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate change\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate change","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-change"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/04120405-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1067&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/04120405-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1067&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/04120405-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1067&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/04120405-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1067&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/04120405-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1067&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":404278,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=404278","url_meta":{"origin":409613,"position":4},"title":"Is National Academy of Sciences Squeezing Private Endowments to Fund Climate Alarmism?","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"09\/23\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"What was the opportunity cost of producing yet another \u201cbeyond doubt\u201d climate report?","rel":"","context":"In \"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)\"","block_context":{"text":"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=carbon-dioxide-co%e2%82%82"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0AQMin_4mmuh8GVU193_HG_5IAqT9N8PhXZVPxRl-X11TtyFqnKHmVickBbNIbeUiakKarsGiFnaLgolpMgfg98jV32HIZkBUkMyG-PnTRfKYzkyl0AvlBKTU9vL7K_eK-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0AQMin_4mmuh8GVU193_HG_5IAqT9N8PhXZVPxRl-X11TtyFqnKHmVickBbNIbeUiakKarsGiFnaLgolpMgfg98jV32HIZkBUkMyG-PnTRfKYzkyl0AvlBKTU9vL7K_eK-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0AQMin_4mmuh8GVU193_HG_5IAqT9N8PhXZVPxRl-X11TtyFqnKHmVickBbNIbeUiakKarsGiFnaLgolpMgfg98jV32HIZkBUkMyG-PnTRfKYzkyl0AvlBKTU9vL7K_eK-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0AQMin_4mmuh8GVU193_HG_5IAqT9N8PhXZVPxRl-X11TtyFqnKHmVickBbNIbeUiakKarsGiFnaLgolpMgfg98jV32HIZkBUkMyG-PnTRfKYzkyl0AvlBKTU9vL7K_eK-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0AQMin_4mmuh8GVU193_HG_5IAqT9N8PhXZVPxRl-X11TtyFqnKHmVickBbNIbeUiakKarsGiFnaLgolpMgfg98jV32HIZkBUkMyG-PnTRfKYzkyl0AvlBKTU9vL7K_eK-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":440904,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=440904","url_meta":{"origin":409613,"position":5},"title":"Stop Protecting Insurance Profiteers, San Francisco Chronicle, Climate Change Is Not Responsible for California\u2019s High Cost of Living","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"04\/22\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The San Francisco Chronicle claims that California is suffering from the impacts of climate change, and oil companies should \u201cpick up the tab\u201d instead of taxpayers because they are supposedly the cause. \"California isn't expensive because of climate change. It's expensive because of climate policies.\"","rel":"","context":"In \"\u201cbig oil\u201d\"","block_context":{"text":"\u201cbig oil\u201d","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=big-oil-2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Stop-Protecting-Insurance-Profiteers-San-Francisco-Chronicle-Climate-Change-Is-Not-Responsible-for-Californias-High-Cost-of-Living.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Stop-Protecting-Insurance-Profiteers-San-Francisco-Chronicle-Climate-Change-Is-Not-Responsible-for-Californias-High-Cost-of-Living.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Stop-Protecting-Insurance-Profiteers-San-Francisco-Chronicle-Climate-Change-Is-Not-Responsible-for-Californias-High-Cost-of-Living.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Stop-Protecting-Insurance-Profiteers-San-Francisco-Chronicle-Climate-Change-Is-Not-Responsible-for-Californias-High-Cost-of-Living.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Stop-Protecting-Insurance-Profiteers-San-Francisco-Chronicle-Climate-Change-Is-Not-Responsible-for-Californias-High-Cost-of-Living.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=409613"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409613\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":409629,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409613\/revisions\/409629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=409613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=409613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=409613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}