The start of peak fire season for California is said to be mid-May, but, the state is now going into summer -- after two very dry winters and the region is slipping further and further into a severe drought.
The U.S. Drought Monitor now shows almost all of Los Angeles and Ventura counties under the "extreme drought" designation which is just one above the worst rating.
National Weather Service meteorologist David Sweet tells KNX that rainfall in downtown LA this season is about nine inches below normal. Sweet calls that "unusual."
He adds that the hillsides are already showing signs of drying out. Governor Newsom declared drought emergencies in Sonoma and Mendocino counties up north. All of Sonoma and most of Mendocino are listed under "extreme drought" by the Drought Monitor. The governor says a wider drought declaration could be made later.