Extreme heat warnings issued for parts of southern California

Key Points:

• The National Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings for southern California, including Los Angeles, with temperatures expected to reach the high 30s Celsius through Thursday.
• Burbank recorded 39°C on Saturday, nearing the October heat record for the region set in 1987, due to a persistent high-pressure system causing hazardous conditions and increased fire risk.
• Indonesia is experiencing an extreme wildfire season, particularly in Western Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, driven by a lack of rainfall that has dried tropical soils and allowed fires to spread rapidly.
• The peat-rich soils in Indonesia contribute to toxic smoke emissions, including sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide, which have degraded air quality in nearby cities and neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore.
• These drought and wildfire conditions in Indonesia are linked to El Niño events, which suppress thunderstorm activity and exacerbate dry weather in the region.