The state is seeing a sharp water divide this year, with lots of rain in the north while the south has stayed dry. A hydrologist explains what’s happening.

By Jorge Garcia and Rollo Ross LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Two massive wildfires menacing Los Angeles from the east and west devoured nearly 10,000 homes and other structures, burning into a third night on Thursday even as the fierce winds eased and gave firefighters a welcome but temporary respite.

The scourge of wildfires in Los Angeles and the surrounding area are the most destructive in the city’s history, and the city’s fire chief said the region was still in the midst of an “extreme weather event” as a new blaze quickly grew to 1,

LOS ANGELES − As multiple wildfires continue to burn through Southern California, evacuation orders remain in place throughout the region through at least Thursday. Authorities continue to investigating the causes of three wildfires that began burning in Southern California on Tuesday and two fires that sparked north of Los Angeles and in Hollywood on Wednesday.