From blazing wildfires near Los Angeles to a brutal heat wave across dozens of coastal cities like Santa Rosa, California is getting pummeled with wild weather. Thousands of firefighters are currently battling 15 wildfires in the state, forcing many to evacuate. Concurrently, many cities saw record high temperatures. San Francisco, a city not known for it’s warmth, saw a record high of 106 degrees F – its highest temperature recorded since 1874.

What is the connection to climate change?

While it’s too simplistic to suggest that climate change caused these events, climate models predict that California will see increasing amounts of extreme heat each year. Scientists project that such a trend will make heat waves and wildfires – like the ones the state is experiencing right now – more likely.